Category: PM News

Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac and Homadil Realty Limited have secured a major legal victory after the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) unlawfully froze the company’s bank account without obtaining the required court order.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/830/2025 on April 23, 2026, Justice M. A. Hassan held that the anti-graft agency acted outside its statutory powers by directing Zenith Bank Plc to maintain a ‘Post No Debit’ restriction on Homadil Realty’s account beyond the period permitted by law.

The court ruled that while the EFCC may place an initial restriction on a bank account during an investigation, any extension of such restriction must first receive judicial approval. Instead of seeking the court’s authorisation, the commission repeatedly issued directives instructing the bank to continue freezing the account.

Justice Hassan described the action as a clear violation of Homadil Realty’s constitutional right to own and enjoy property, stressing that law enforcement agencies must exercise their powers strictly within the limits of the law.

He further emphasised that Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, noting that no government agency or institution is above the Constitution.

Consequently, the court ordered the EFCC to pay ?2 million in damages to Homadil Realty Limited for what it described as a gross abuse of power. Zenith Bank was also directed to pay an additional ?2 million for enforcing the unlawful directives, bringing the total compensation awarded to the company to ?4 million.

The judgment marks a significant victory for Godwin-Isaac and Homadil Realty Limited, reinforcing the principle that investigative agencies must respect constitutional safeguards and due process in the exercise of their statutory powers.

Police Command in Osun has assured residents, tourists and traditionalists of adequate security before, during, and after the Osun-Osogbo Festival.

The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, in a statement on Thursday, said that divisional officers and area commanders had been directed to deploy security measures to safeguard lives and property.

‘The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, has directed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Tactical Commanders, and other operational units to put in place comprehensive security measures across Osogbo and other strategic locations. This is to safeguard lives and property and maintain public order throughout the festive period. Security personnel will be strategically deployed to major venues, access routes, worship and tourist sites, markets, motor parks, and other identified flashpoints,’ Ojelabi said.

He said that the command would be working with relevant government agencies, traditional institutions, festival organisers, community leaders, and other security stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and prompt response to any security challenge.

The spokesperson assured members of the public that adequate arrangements had been made to manage traffic, regulate crowds, prevent criminal activities, and respond promptly to emergencies.

He urged residents and visitors to remain vigilant and law-abiding throughout the festival.

Ojelabi advised members of the public to cooperate with security personnel, avoid acts capable of causing disorder, and promptly report suspicious persons, objects, or activities to the nearest police formation or security personnel.

He urged parents and guardians to keep watch over their children and wards in crowded areas.

Ojelabi also advised motorists and other road users to comply with traffic regulations and instructions from personnel deployed for traffic management.

He, however, warned criminals, cultists, hoodlums, thieves, and other persons intending to exploit the festival to commit crimes, that the command will not allow anyone to disrupt the peace of the state.

The spokesperson said that appropriate measures had been put in place to identify and deal decisively with criminal activities, in accordance with the law.

The Osun-Osogbo festival is an annual traditional event hosted by the Osun State Government with the Ata-Oja of Osogbo, the traditional ruler of Osogbo.

The festival, which attracts foreign tourists, is held at the Osun-Osogbo Grove, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognised heritage site.

The week long event would be climaxing on Aug. 7 with the calabash carrying ritual, by the Osun maiden called the ‘Arugba’, to the Osun River in Osogbo.

Convener of the Mentor with Abidemi Initiative, Abidemi Adeyemi, has urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to embrace integrity, discipline, patience and personal responsibility as essential ingredients for rebuilding the nation’s economy and restoring its moral values.

Speaking at the third edition of the mentorship programme, themed ‘Developing Good Character, Integrity, Discipline and Responsibility,’ held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Adeyemi said Nigeria’s challenges cannot be solved through blame or excuses but by citizens taking responsibility for their actions.

The event attracted youths from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, as well as stakeholders and sponsors from the event planning industry, including Elegants Events UK/Nigeria, LOMS and other organisations.

Adeyemi lamented what she described as the growing obsession with wealth at the expense of character, warning that integrity and moral values have steadily declined in homes, communities and even religious institutions.

According to her, many young people have developed an unhealthy sense of entitlement, expecting rewards without making meaningful contributions to society.

‘We are used to blaming people whenever things go wrong. We blame the economy, the government and other people instead of taking responsibility. I want people to leave here knowing they can become better people. When we do better things, we can build a better country for ourselves,’ she said.

She urged participants to remain committed to honesty and good character, stressing that it is better to belong to the minority of upright people than to gain popularity through dishonest means.

Adeyemi also encouraged youths to cultivate patience, accountability and discipline while trusting God for success, noting that lasting achievements are built on consistency rather than shortcuts.

Drawing lessons from previous editions of the mentorship programme, she advised participants to learn to say ‘no’ when necessary instead of seeking to please everyone, warning them against allowing negative influences to shape their lives.

‘Don’t become muddy water that absorbs every form of corruption,’ she cautioned.

Expressing optimism about the future of the initiative, Adeyemi said the annual programme was designed to raise responsible citizens capable of transforming their families, communities and the nation.

‘I want Mentor with Abidemi to become an annual platform that keeps making people better every year. As we continue learning and growing together, we will become better spouses, better professionals and better citizens. When individuals improve, Ogun State and Nigeria will also become better,’ she said.

She further appealed to Nigerian youths to remain resilient despite the country’s economic challenges, revealing plans to support committed young entrepreneurs with start-up opportunities.

However, she decried the growing trend of beneficiaries of empowerment programmes diverting business support funds to luxury purchases instead of investing in sustainable ventures.

‘It is discouraging when some youths use empowerment funds to buy cars because they believe they have arrived. We want to identify and support young people who are willing to invest, build businesses and create lasting value,’ she said.

Adeyemi maintained that character, integrity and responsible leadership remain the bedrock of national development, urging young Nigerians to become agents of positive change capable of restoring hope for a better future.

Greece has recorded 65 locally acquired cases of West Nile virus infections since the start of the 2026 transmission season, with six deaths reported, health authorities said on Thursday.

The National Public Health Organisation (EODY), in its latest weekly epidemiological surveillance report, said 23 new cases were recorded in the past week, indicating a rise in infections.

It said 54 patients developed central nervous system (CNS) complications, including encephalitis, meningitis and acute flaccid paralysis, while 11 others experienced mild symptoms or no CNS involvement.

According to the report, all six deaths recorded were among persons above 65 years who had developed CNS complications, with the median age of the victims at 79 years.

EODY said the infections had been detected in 25 municipalities across 10 regional units in Attica, Thessaly and Central Macedonia.

It noted that Attica, the region hosting the capital, Athens, had recorded the highest spread of the disease.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that remains a recurring public health challenge in Greece, with cases commonly reported during the peak mosquito season between May and November.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has proceeded on a two-week leave, with effect from Thursday, August 6, marking his first official break since assuming office in May 2023.

The development was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Vice President’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha.

According to the statement, the leave will allow Shettima to dedicate time to study and reflection aimed at enhancing his capacity to continue serving the country.

‘The leave offers Senator Shettima an opportunity to review the administration’s ongoing programmes, deepen his understanding of emerging national and global policy issues, and prepare for the responsibilities ahead as the Federal Government intensifies the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, the Vice President has remained actively engaged in the coordination and supervision of several strategic government initiatives, particularly in economic development, food security, humanitarian affairs, digital transformation, job creation and regional cooperation.

‘He has also chaired the National Economic Council, which brings together the governors of the 36 states, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant public officials to deliberate on policies affecting the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.’

The statement noted that, beyond his domestic responsibilities, Shettima has represented President Bola Tinubu at several regional and international meetings, promoting Nigeria’s interests in economic cooperation, investment, climate action, sustainable development, and peace and security.

It added that the Vice President has remained committed to supporting the administration’s objectives through loyalty, duty and service, while contributing to efforts to build a safer, more prosperous and productive nation.

Shettima is expected to resume official duties at the end of the two-week leave.

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening monitoring and evaluation (MandE) as a critical tool for improving project delivery, enhancing accountability and ensuring that public investments deliver measurable benefits to residents.

The commitment was reiterated at the 2026 Monitoring and Evaluation Stakeholders’ Forum, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget on Wednesday in Alausa, Ikeja. The forum was themed: ‘Leveraging Monitoring and Evaluation to Advance Shared Prosperity: Chart the Course, Track the Result, Share the Prosperity.’

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, said Lagos has continued to distinguish itself as a leader in innovative governance by institutionalising monitoring and evaluation throughout the entire project cycle. He explained that the process begins with the annual budget preparation, during which government consults residents across the IBILE divisions-Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe, to identify priority projects.

George stressed the need to modernise monitoring systems and strengthen institutional capacity to keep Lagos at the forefront of public sector innovation.

‘We must continue to modernise our systems and build institutional capacity to ensure that Lagos remains at the forefront of public sector innovation. Let us move beyond identifying challenges and focus on practical, innovative and collaborative solutions that will strengthen our monitoring and evaluation ecosystem and accelerate sustainable development,’ he said.

The commissioner noted that the ministry’s Monitoring and Evaluation Department tracks projects from the planning stage through implementation, assessing progress, documenting findings and working closely with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

*’We don’t wait until projects are completed. Our Monitoring and Evaluation Department follows projects from the planning stage through implementation, evaluating progress, reporting findings and working closely with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

‘For every single project that the state undertakes, every naira and kobo is monitored, evaluated and accounted for,’ he said, adding that no project is too small because every intervention directly affects the lives of Lagos residents.

According to him, the state’s monitoring framework covers major infrastructure projects such as the Opebi-Mende Bridge, Massey Children’s Hospital, rail projects and the Food Logistics Hub, alongside investments in education, healthcare and community development.

George also disclosed that technology is becoming central to project monitoring through digital platforms such as the EKO360 App, while emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, are expected to further strengthen data collection, project tracking and evidence-based decision-making.

Delivering a paper titled ‘Result-Oriented Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism for Budget Efficiency, Effectiveness and Equity,’ former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, represented by Aliyu Aminu Ahmed, pioneer President of the Nigeria Association of Evaluators (NEA), called for the institutionalisation of Results-Based Management to improve governance.

He argued that governments should no longer be judged by the number of projects executed or funds expended, but by measurable improvements in citizens’ quality of life.

According to him, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and equity should remain the key benchmarks for evaluating government performance and ensuring development interventions produce lasting benefits.

Also speaking, the Registrar-General of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), Henry Mbadiwe, identified poor planning and weak project control mechanisms as major factors responsible for project failures in the public sector.

He emphasised that every successful project must begin with proper planning, a clearly defined project charter and a robust monitoring framework capable of managing risks, controlling project scope and evaluating results throughout the project lifecycle.

Mbadiwe urged public institutions to move beyond monitoring activities to measuring outcomes, stressing that projects only create prosperity when they are successfully delivered, effectively utilised and achieve their intended objectives.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, described monitoring and evaluation as indispensable to achieving the goals of the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 2052 and the THEMES+ Development Agenda.

She said sustainable development requires deliberate planning, diligent implementation, effective monitoring and continuous learning to ensure government programmes translate into measurable benefits for residents.

According to her, the forum was organised to deepen collaboration among stakeholders, facilitate the exchange of best practices and generate practical recommendations for strengthening Lagos State’s monitoring and evaluation framework.

Chairman of the Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council, Alhaji Amusat Azeez, commended the government for promoting community participation in project implementation, noting that communities now play active roles in identifying priorities, monitoring execution and taking ownership of completed projects, a development he described as vital for sustainability and accountability.

The forum brought together senior government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, professional bodies, academics and community leaders to explore practical strategies for strengthening monitoring and evaluation as a catalyst for transparency, improved service delivery and sustainable development in Lagos State.

Some workers at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, staged a protest on Thursday over the alleged non payment of their allowances.

The workers, who are members of the National Association of Non Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTS), FUTA branch, accused the university management of paying the allowances to members of other staff unions while leaving them out.

During the protest, the workers marched to the Vice Chancellor’s office, singing solidarity songs and demanding immediate payment. They warned that they would continue their action until the issue was resolved.

The union’s chairman, Adebayo Aladerotohun, said the unpaid benefits include the Consolidated Tools Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CONTA) and End Allowances, which were approved by the Federal Government.

According to him, members of the association discovered that other staff had received the payments, while they were excluded.

Aladerotohun accused the university management of wrongly implementing the government’s directive and favouring another union.

He argued that their letters of appointment clearly state that they are entitled to all government approved allowances, regardless of union membership.

The union gave the university management a seven day ultimatum to pay the allowances or face legal action.

Responding to the protesters, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Taiwo Amos, appealed for calm and assured them that no worker would be denied his or her rightful benefits.

He said the management was already discussing the matter and would meet with the union’s executives again to find a solution.

The Vice Chancellor urged the workers to allow dialogue, saying peaceful discussions would help resolve the dispute faster than confrontation.

He also stressed that the university had no intention of denying any staff member their entitlement and promised that the issue would be settled fairly.

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, on Thursday, formally executed a 20-year, $3.1b Concession Agreement with Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited for the implementation of the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project (ACMP).

The signing ceremony took place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, and comes weeks after the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed to transform customs administration and facilitate seamless trade across Africa.

The Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, signed on behalf of the continental body while Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, Chairman of Bergmans, signed for the company.

The project aims to provide the technological backbone required to operationalise key AfCFTA protocols on customs harmonisation and trade facilitation while enabling African customs administrations to improve operational efficiency, safeguard government revenues and accelerate intra-African trade without imposing additional financial burdens on national budgets.

Speaking after the concession was executed, the AfCFTA Secretary General praised Bergmans for the unprecedented changes it has brought to Nigeria’s Customs Service through digitalization and other technology- driven innovations, which he said have helped to improve clearance operations speed, reduced time and drastically brought down corruption while revenue inflow has more than tripled.

He said the initiative aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, regarded as the world’s largest free trade area, adding that already, 50 member countries have keyed into the project, adding that it would support the creation of a single continental market serving approximately 1.3 billion people with a combined gross domestic product estimated at $3.4 trillion.

According to him, the deal was a critical milestone in the digital transformation and overall modernization of African trade and customs infrastructure.

He praised the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Customs Service for engaging Bergmans to showcase their ingenuity, saying it was the great feat they recorded with the Nigerian experience that motivated the AfCFTA Secretariat to decide to engage the company to drive the African Customs transformation initiative, adding that all Africans should be proud of Bergmans.

The Chairman of Bergmans, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, said with the execution of the Concession, the company was good to go and ready to invest $3.1 billion, saying among its obligations was the deployment of continent-wide digital and physical customs infrastructure designed to modernize Customs procedures, improve trade corridors and simplify the cross-border movement of goods among AfCFTA State Parties.

He said the Nigerian project has achieved significant success and gained international recognition, serving as a model for customs modernisation across the African continent, adding that with the concession, Bergmans would introduce advanced Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) technology, integrated data centres and multilingual customs portals that will support the continent’s official languages.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has revealed that investigations into the alleged mismanagement of public funds are ongoing in about 18 states across the country.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, the commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, declined to identify the affected states, saying doing so could compromise ongoing investigations.

He disclosed that the probe extends beyond Osun State, whose statutory account was recently placed under temporary restriction by the anti-graft agency.

‘Like we said in the statement, there are about 18 other states that we have ongoing investigations,’ he said.

When pressed to disclose the states involved, Uwujaren replied: ‘I don’t want to start mentioning those states by name now.’

He rejected suggestions that the commission was shielding any government, insisting the decision was purely to safeguard the integrity of the investigations.

‘Not running away per se, but not to jeopardise the investigation that is currently ongoing,’ he said.

Uwujaren said the action against Osun was not unprecedented, recalling that the commission similarly restricted an Edo State Government account before Governor Monday Okpebholo assumed office.

‘Before, during the Edo State government, the Edo State election, before the coming of Governor Okpebholo, EFCC also took actions to restrict the account of that state government when we saw that funds were being moved to suspicious accounts.

‘And we were able to preserve $12 billion for them. That is why the current government was able to come on board and have resources to work.’

He maintained that the commission acts strictly within the law and does not single out any administration.

‘So this is not targeted at any particular government. We are simply doing our work under the law.’

Responding to questions about why a similar step was not taken during the Ekiti governorship election, Uwujaren said the situations were not comparable.

‘If you talk about what happened in Ekiti, we didn’t have any reason to intervene the way we are intervening now. And you don’t have access to the information that we have access to.’

He explained that only one statutory account belonging to the Osun State Government had been temporarily restricted, stressing that other government accounts remained operational.

‘We only targeted one statutory account, which is restricted, temporary restriction on that account. And it does not stop the government from operating other accounts that they have. It’s only one account that is frozen for now.’

Uwujaren said the EFCC has 72 hours to obtain a court order to sustain the restriction or lift it.

‘We have a 72 hours window to obtain a court order, which the commission is at liberty to do.

‘We have not exhausted that window, 72 hours, within which we either obtain a court order to continue to freeze it or lift the restriction on the other hand.’

On Osun State’s plan to challenge the action in court, he said the government was entitled to seek legal redress.

‘It’s within their right to take that decision today. If we think they are right to take that decision, we are also working on what we should do as an agency.’

Uwujaren added that the commission derived its authority from Section 34 of the EFCC Act and Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2022, which empower it to impose temporary restrictions on accounts suspected to be linked to suspicious transactions.

He also disclosed that the Osun investigation began in March and that several state officials had already been questioned.

‘But as it is now, I want to restate the fact that the Osun State case didn’t start today. It started way back in March. And a number of officials from that state have been interviewed in course of this investigation. So it didn’t just begin now.’

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recommended the prosecution of Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew after an interim investigation found that he operated a fictitious government agency, forged official documents and falsely presented himself as a federal government appointee.

ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), disclosed the findings on Thursday during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after submitting an interim report to President Bola Tinubu, exactly 30 days after the President directed the commission to investigate the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

Aliyu said the investigation established that Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authorised government institution and that the PFIPC was never established by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument.

According to him, the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi, along with several other documents used to facilitate the operations of the fake agency, were completely forged.

The ICPC also found that the PFIPC unlawfully appropriated the identity, offices and operational instruments of the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) while engaging in widespread impersonation, false representation and other illegal activities.

The commission, however, said no Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC or the PEAC, adding that investigators found no weaknesses in the operational systems of the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Aliyu further disclosed that the fake appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency.

He also revealed that Adeyemi allegedly established two additional fictitious government agencies-the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIPA-PPP), using forged legislative instruments presented as enabling Acts to facilitate the opening of bank accounts.

While the investigation uncovered weaknesses in verification processes, inter-agency oversight and administrative procedures, the ICPC chairman said there were also acts of negligence and possible connivance that enabled the fraudulent operation.

Besides recommending Adeyemi’s prosecution, the commission called for administrative sanctions against public officers whose omissions facilitated the illegal operations and proposed far-reaching institutional reforms to prevent a recurrence.

Aliyu added that investigations are continuing into the activities, bank accounts and alleged collaborators linked to Adeyemi and the fake agencies.