Category: PM News

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, has warned naval and other military personnel to remain apolitical, non-partisan and professional in the discharge of their duty in the upcoming 2027 election.

The CNS gave the charge on Saturday while addressing personnel at the Third Quarter Route March 2026.

Abbas, represented by the Director of Manning, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Kolawole Oguntuga, said that the Armed Forces retained the solemn responsibility to support the democratic process.

He emphasised that the support provided by military personnel during elections must remain within the limits of the law and the duly authorised directives as provided by the constitution.

He demanded utmost professionalism from the personnel, tasking them to avoid statements, associations and any other activity that could negate the service’s core values and bring the Navy to disrepute.

According to him, unity and discipline displayed during the route march is timely and significant, and the results should be evident during the discharge of duty in the upcoming elections.

‘Physical fitness is all the more important as naval service has grown beyond traditional responsibilities at sea.

‘Personnel continue to serve alongside sister services and other security agencies in joint theatres, contributing significantly to ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

‘Personnel, in most cases whether at sea or ashore, operating singly or jointly, would operate for prolonged periods in demanding terrain, under intense pressure, and in rapidly changing tactical conditions.

‘Success in such deployments therefore depends not only on weapons, platforms and training, but also on the physical fitness, mental resilience and adaptability of the individual officer or rating.’

According to him, today’s Route March reminds us that operational effectiveness begins with individual readiness and I urge every personnel to make physical fitness a continuous habit, and an integral part of professional military life.

Abbas reiterated the need for personnel to renew commitment to the service of the nation.

He said personnel must maintain physical fitness to meet the demands of the profession, uphold institutional standards in fulfilling our constitutional responsibilities and remain operationally prepared to respond whenever duty calls.

‘At all times, we must remember that our sacred oath to uphold our professional standards in all aspects of operations is vital to keeping faith with our responsibility to defend our territorial integrity,’ he said

A middle-aged Uber and InDrive driver, Joseph Adeyemi, was allegedly beaten to coma by a mob in Magboro community, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, after he was mistaken for a kidnapper.

Adeyemi, who was driving his two children, aged three and five, was heading towards the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway after picking them up from school when the incident occurred.

According to the driver, the trouble started after his vehicle had a minor collision with a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an okada rider.

Adeyemi said the accident was minor and that he immediately apologised to the motorcyclist before continuing his journey.

He, however, said the motorcyclist and some of his colleagues began chasing his vehicle.

According to him, the situation took a frightening turn when one of the men allegedly raised an alarm and accused him of being a kidnapper.

Adeyemi said the allegation attracted other people in the area, including commercial motorcyclists, who reportedly accosted him and began beating him.

He said he was attacked and pelted with objects while his two young children remained inside the vehicle.

The driver explained that the mob continued the attack until his wife, Anuoluwapo, arrived at the scene and intervened.

By the time the attack stopped, Adeyemi had sustained serious injuries and was reportedly unconscious.

He was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment and is currently recuperating at Lavenda Hospital in Magboro.

His Honda car was also badly damaged during the attack.

Speaking about the incident, Adeyemi expressed concern over what he described as an unjustified act of jungle justice.

He called on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the incident, identify those involved and ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.

Adeyemi said the attack was particularly disturbing because it happened in the presence of his young children, who witnessed their father being beaten after he was allegedly wrongly accused of kidnapping.

He urged the police and relevant authorities to take action to prevent similar incidents and discourage residents from taking the law into their own hands.

The incident has again raised concerns about mob action and the dangers of acting on unverified allegations, particularly in communities where suspicion of criminal activity can quickly escalate into violence.

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (JTF OPWS), have rescued six people abducted by suspected kidnappers in the Gbise area of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the task force, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday.

Zubairu said the victims were rescued on Sept. 25 after troops, while conducting a patrol in the area, received credible intelligence on their whereabouts.

He said the troops immediately moved to the location and evacuated the victims to a secure area for their safety and further necessary action.

The rescued persons were identified as Gabriel Enujuba, 50; Samson Magbo, 43; Alkasim Modu, 27; Manzo Bello, 27; Sani Abdullahi, 25; and Munza Yusuf, 25.

According to Zubairu, preliminary investigations revealed that five of the victims had been abducted along the Chenchengi-Takum road.

He said Yusuf, however, told investigators that he was kidnapped from his residence in the Ahmadu general area of Takum Local Government Area of Taraba.

The media officer said troops had intensified aggressive and intelligence-led operations aimed at tracking down and arresting members of the kidnapping syndicate responsible for the attacks.

He added that the task force was also stepping up patrols and human intelligence gathering to prevent criminals from operating freely in vulnerable communities and along major routes.

Zubairu urged troops to remain proactive, vigilant and responsive to emerging security threats.

He said the task force was strengthening its human intelligence networks to enhance the identification, tracking and apprehension of perpetrators.

He reaffirmed Operation Whirl Stroke’s commitment to tackling criminal activities and protecting lives and property within its Joint Operations Area.

According to him, the operation would continue to work towards creating a secure environment for residents, farmers, commuters and other law-abiding citizens.

Three men have been sentenced to a combined 25 years in prison for handling stolen mobile phones after a Metropolitan Police investigation uncovered a major international phone-smuggling network.

The men were linked to the trafficking of up to 40,000 stolen mobile phones from the UK to China in 2024 and 2025, with the devices believed to account for about 40 per cent of all phones stolen in London during the period.

The sentences followed a year-long investigation, Operation Echosteep, which began after police discovered a shipment containing about 1,000 iPhones at a warehouse near Heathrow Airport in December 2024.

Investigators found that almost all the phones had been stolen, prompting specialist detectives to trace the wider supply chain linking street-level thieves in London to international handlers and exporters.

At Southwark Crown Court on Friday, September 25, Amir Muhammad Khadikhel, 35, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years, while Ismat Miakhel, 33, received nine years. Mansoor Mohammed, 30, was jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Khadikhel and Miakhel were convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen mobile phones, conspiracy to transfer or export stolen phones and participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

Mohammed was convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen mobile phones and participating in the activities of an organised crime group.

The investigation intensified after officers intercepted further shipments and used forensic evidence recovered from packages to identify those involved in the operation.

Police arrested Khadikhel and Miakhel in north-east London on September 23, 2025. Several hundred phones were recovered from their vehicle, while another 2,000 devices were seized from properties linked to them, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Commander Andy Featherstone, the Met’s lead for tackling mobile phone theft, said the sentences demonstrated that police would continue pursuing those involved in stealing, handling and exporting stolen devices.

He said the investigation was the result of officers painstakingly tracing the gang’s activities and building evidence that led to the convictions.

The Metropolitan Police said phone theft and robbery offences have fallen by a fifth across London this year, representing more than 9,000 fewer victims. In Westminster, one of London’s busiest tourist areas, the offences have dropped by almost 50 per cent.

The force said it was using intelligence-led policing, drones, high-powered e-bikes, live facial recognition and specialist teams to target areas where phone thieves operate.

The case highlights the international dimension of London’s mobile phone theft problem, with stolen devices moving from street-level criminal activity in the UK into an organised export network supplying overseas markets.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has recounted how he narrowly escaped what he described as an assassination attempt in 2015, saying he believes divine intervention saved his life.

Otti shared the account on Thursday night during the ‘Abia Solemn Assembly and Covenant Renewal Service’ in Umuahia, organised by the state government with the theme, ‘Remembering the Covenant.’

The governor, while reflecting on his journey into politics, recalled an incident in July 2015 when he was challenging the outcome of the Abia State governorship election at the tribunal.

According to him, he was in Abuja at the time attempting to hold a meeting with an individual who repeatedly postponed their appointment until the meeting eventually failed to take place.

Otti said he later informed his friends that he planned to return from Abuja the following day despite their objections.

‘There was only one flight from Abuja to Owerri then.

‘All my friends objected. I said, well, I have received a message that I must leave Abuja.

‘So, to make it make sense, I told them I wanted to be at the tribunal on Friday, so they grudgingly accepted,’ he said.

The governor said that night, armed men allegedly attacked his Abuja residence, killing two policemen stationed there while searching for him.

‘That night, assassins attacked my residence in Abuja, shot two policemen dead, and they were looking for me.

‘Of course, God had taken me away,’ Otti said.

He claimed that after failing to find him inside the building, the attackers became convinced that he was still within the premises and moved into an adjoining compound.

‘When they finished and couldn’t find me. They were convinced I was there.

‘They had so much time. By the way, this was Maitama. They jumped into the next compound, and I learnt that they were up to 12. They jumped into the next compound, and stripped the whole building,’ he added.

Otti said there was no obvious reason at the time for him to leave Abuja but that he believed his decision to travel was divinely directed.

‘They thought I jumped first, but I left. There was no reason for me not to be there but God had taken me away from there,’ he said.

The governor also recalled how some people advised him against going into politics, while others suggested that he seek spiritual protection through traditional means.

‘A lot of friends, after trying to dissuade me, found I couldn’t be dissuaded. They said, okay, if you decided to do this thing, you can’t go in there empty-handed.

‘You can’t go there without belonging to some societies.

‘You can’t go there without going to some native doctors for protection and you will be shocked at the kind of people that are making these suggestions and some of them are leaders in churches,’ he said.

Otti said his decision remained anchored on his faith, citing the biblical passage in Joshua 24:15 about choosing whom to serve.

He said the experience strengthened his conviction about his political journey and his administration’s commitment to what he described as service anchored on faith.

Comrade Wasiu Adekunle Adejumo, a former aide to Senator Iyabo Obasanjo on Media and Publicity, has announced his plans to mobilise 100,000 votes for All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ogun State governorship candidate Senator Olamilekan Solomon popularly known as Yayi against 2027 election.

Comrade Adekunle who is also the Director of Yayi Ni Wura Alliance Movement (Y. A. M) declared this plan while Speaking at a meeting and press briefing in Okelewo Abeokuta on Thursday.

He described the movement as a socio-political organisation whose membership cuts across different political backgrounds, including former supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and APC.

Wasiu also known as Westo, said members from various political platforms had decided to work together in support of Tinubu and Adeola.

Adejumo said the movement was created as a platform for people who share its political objectives, irrespective of their previous party affiliations.

‘We were initially on the side of the opposition party, some of us from APC, PDP and some from ADC. But we have made our decision. We have chosen our direction, we are open to all, and we want everyone to support this movement’

According to him, some former members of a group associated with a serving PDP senatorial candidate had also joined the alliance.

He said their decision was driven by the desire to support Adeola’s governorship bid in Ogun and Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

The State Coordinator of the movement, Comrade Akeem Shodiya, said Y.A.M. was established to mobilise support for Tinubu, Adeola and other APC candidates ahead of the elections.

Shodiya said the organisation remained open to members of other political parties who wished to join its mobilisation structure.

The group also claimed its activities would extend beyond political mobilisation to community engagement and empowerment initiatives.

Adejumo cited a medical outreach organised by the group at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, as one of its community-based activities.

He also highlighted what the group described as Senator Adeola’s legislative and constituency interventions, particularly during his tenure in the Senate and as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

However, the claims concerning the scale and impact of the interventions were made by the alliance and were not independently quantified at the briefing.

The group also expressed support for the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, citing infrastructure development and economic reforms as reasons for its position.

Westo acknowledged that the administration still faced challenges but maintained that the government was addressing some of the country’s problems.

There are political careers built around the pursuit of office. There are others built around the accumulation of experience. And there are a select few in which successive offices become chapters in a larger story of service, institutional leadership and measurable impact.

The public career of Senator Wasiu Sanni Esinlokun belongs to the latter category.

From the grassroots as a two-term Local Government Chairman, through the Lagos State House of Assembly where he rose to become Deputy Speaker, and now as the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Esinlokun’s journey has been one of progressive responsibility.

The offices have changed. The constituency has expanded. The responsibilities have become increasingly national. But the underlying philosophy has remained consistent: public office is a trust, representation is a responsibility, and leadership must ultimately produce impact.

A Grassroots Foundation

Senator Esinlokun’s understanding of governance did not begin in Abuja.

It was forged on the streets and communities of Lagos Island, where he served as Executive Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government for two terms between 2008 and 2014.

That experience was critical.

Local government is arguably the most intimate level of democratic governance. It is where citizens encounter government in its most immediate form and where leadership is judged by practical realities-community infrastructure, education, sanitation, social services, local economic activity and responsiveness to residents.

Esinlokun’s tenure therefore gave him something invaluable: an executive understanding of governance from the grassroots upward.

He was not merely learning how government works; he was directly responsible for running one.

That distinction would subsequently become important as he moved into legislative leadership.

From Executive Administration to Lawmaking

Senator Esinlokun’s political experience predates his chairmanship. He had already served in the Lagos political ecosystem and was involved in the emergence and development of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos. In an extensive interview in 2022, he recalled serving as a pioneer secretary of the Lagos State APC after earlier political involvement and public service engagements.

He subsequently returned to the Lagos State House of Assembly and, from January 2015 to February 2023, served as Deputy Speaker.

This was a significant transition.

The Local Government Chairman operates within the executive arm of government. The legislator operates within the lawmaking, representation and oversight functions of government. The Deputy Speaker adds another layer-institutional leadership and management of legislative business.

Esinlokun therefore experienced governance from both sides of the executive-legislative divide.

That breadth of experience matters because effective legislation is not produced in isolation from the realities of administration. A legislator who has previously had executive responsibility understands both the ambition of policy and the practical challenges of implementation.

The Deputy Speakership: Leadership Beyond the Gavel

As Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Esinlokun occupied one of the principal leadership positions in the legislature for eight years.

It was a period that required political maturity, consensus-building and institutional discipline.

In his own account of his legislative career, Esinlokun pointed to his involvement in issues including constituency development and financial autonomy for the legislature, as well as his role in stakeholder engagement around public hearings.

The significance of this period goes beyond individual bills or legislative motions.

It was an apprenticeship in institution-building.

It was also a period during which he developed the legislative networks, procedural knowledge and political relationships that would later become assets at the national level.

Lagos Central: From State Representation to National Representation

In 2023, Esinlokun moved from Alausa to the National Assembly, assuming the responsibility of representing Lagos Central Senatorial District.

This was not the beginning of his political career. It was the next logical chapter.

He came into the Senate having already served as:

A grassroots administrator.

A two-term Local Government Chairman.

A State Legislator.

A Deputy Speaker.

That accumulated experience gives his present mandate a distinctive foundation.

He understands the constituency from the grassroots.

He understands the legislature from the inside.

And he understands executive administration from personal experience.

The Senate consequently provides him with the broadest platform yet to deploy those accumulated competencies.

Representation That Comes Home

For Senator Esinlokun, representation does not end with speeches in the Senate chamber.

His office has undertaken a series of constituency interventions, particularly in education, empowerment and healthcare.

His official platform reported a 2026 scholarship programme supporting 300 tertiary students from Lagos Central, alongside other empowerment initiatives. It has also documented entrepreneurship training in areas including barbing, photography and confectionery, with participants receiving training certificates and financial support.

In January 2026, his office also reported the facilitation of an ultra-modern X-ray machine for General Hospital, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority.

These initiatives point to an important principle of constituency representation: the legislative mandate must eventually translate into something that citizens can see, touch and benefit from.

Whether it is education, healthcare, skills acquisition or economic empowerment, representation becomes more meaningful when the constituency can identify tangible outcomes.

A Senator Thinking Beyond the Constituency

Perhaps equally important is the national dimension of Senator Esinlokun’s present responsibilities.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, he occupies a strategic position in an area of enormous importance to Lagos and Nigeria.

His committee’s work has included oversight of maritime institutions and engagement with stakeholders on the development of Nigeria’s marine economy.

In July 2026, Esinlokun called for clearer legal frameworks defining the respective responsibilities of federal, state and local governments in the marine and blue economy. He argued that existing legal frameworks must evolve to address emerging opportunities including marine biotechnology, ocean renewable energy and blue-carbon financing.

This is particularly relevant to Lagos Central.

Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial capital and an important maritime hub. Consequently, questions surrounding ports, inland waterways, marine transportation, logistics, maritime infrastructure and the blue economy are not remote national policy questions for Lagos-they have direct implications for employment, commerce, investment and economic growth.

His committee also engaged with the Lagos State Government on water transportation and the relationship between federal and state authorities responsible for waterways.

Here again, his Lagos experience intersects with his national responsibility.

Oversight With Purpose

Senatorial representation is not only about legislation.

It is also about oversight-ensuring that public institutions perform their mandates and that government policies translate into results.

During an oversight visit to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Esinlokun emphasised the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to conduct oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability and efficiency in implementing government programmes.

This is an important dimension of his present stewardship.

The Senate is not merely a debating chamber. It is one of the institutions through which the constitutional checks and balances of the Nigerian state operate.

A Broader Role in Lagos and National Politics

Esinlokun’s accumulated experience has also continued to attract wider political responsibilities.

In April 2026, reports announced his appointment to the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, placing him among the state’s senior political figures involved in strategic party and governance discussions.

In July 2026, he was also reported to have emerged as National Director-General of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Independent Campaign Group, another role drawing upon his grassroots mobilisation and political experience.

These additional responsibilities underline the breadth of his political journey-from ward and local government politics to state legislative leadership, and from there to national legislative and political assignments.

The Esinlokun Philosophy

The story of Senator Wasiu Esinlokun can ultimately be reduced to three words:

Passion. Impact. Excellence.

Passion, because public service requires a sustained commitment to people and institutions.

Impact, because political representation must produce tangible value beyond rhetoric.

Excellence, because every elevation in responsibility demands a corresponding elevation in performance.

His journey demonstrates a gradual accumulation of experience rather than a sudden arrival.

Local Government Chairman ? State Legislator ? Deputy Speaker ? Senator.

Each position provided another classroom.

Each mandate presented another test.

Each responsibility expanded the constituency he was expected to serve.

And each chapter contributed to the experience he now brings to the Senate.

A Stewardship Still in Progress

The most appropriate description of Senator Wasiu Sanni Esinlokun’s career is therefore not simply political advancement.

It is stewardship.

Stewardship recognises that public office is temporary but its consequences can be enduring.

A school project can affect generations.

A legislative reform can outlive the legislator who sponsored it.

A healthcare intervention can save lives.

An empowerment programme can change the trajectory of a family.

A policy decision can create opportunities for thousands.

That is why the true measure of political leadership should not be the noise surrounding an officeholder, but the value created through the office entrusted to him.

For Senator Esinlokun, the journey from Lagos Island Local Government to the Lagos State House of Assembly and ultimately to the Senate represents a continuing evolution of that responsibility.

His story is one of grassroots experience, legislative leadership, institutional responsibility and national service.

And the journey continues.

Passion has provided the drive.

Experience has provided the foundation.

Impact has provided the evidence.

Excellence remains the standard.

A new DNA analysis of the Shroud of Turin, the ancient linen cloth believed by many Christians to have wrapped the body of Jesus after his crucifixion, has uncovered fresh biological clues that researchers say add another layer to the centuries-old debate over the relic’s origins.

Scientists examining fibres taken from the mysterious 14-foot cloth detected a rare human genetic lineage associated with the Near East, the region where Jesus lived, while also identifying microorganisms linked to highly saline environments.

The findings have renewed discussions about whether the Shroud’s history connects to the Middle East and the biblical account surrounding Jesus’ burial.

However, researchers stressed that the DNA evidence does not prove that the cloth belonged to Jesus Christ or confirm that it was the garment used after his crucifixion.

The Shroud of Turin, housed at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, has remained one of the most studied and controversial religious artefacts in history.

The linen carries the faint image of a man, which believers say represents Jesus after his resurrection, while sceptics have questioned its authenticity for decades.

The latest study, published in Scientific Reports, analysed separate fibre samples collected during a 1978 investigation using advanced DNA sequencing technology capable of detecting millions of genetic fragments.

Researchers led by Dr Gianni Barcaccia, professor of genetics and genomics at the University of Padua, examined biological traces left on the cloth during its long and disputed journey.

The team detected a human mitochondrial DNA lineage known as H33, which is found mainly among Near Eastern populations, including the Druze communities of the Holy Land, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Researchers said the discovery was consistent with previous findings suggesting the Shroud of Turin had passed through the Middle East, though they noted it cannot establish who originally touched or was wrapped in the cloth.

The analysis also identified salt-loving microorganisms known as archaea, which are associated with highly saline environments.

The researchers said the findings raised the possibility that the cloth had encountered salty conditions during storage or processing, although they could not determine exactly where or when those traces appeared.

Previous scientific examinations have produced conflicting conclusions about the Shroud’s age.

Radiocarbon testing carried out in the 1980s suggested the linen originated from the medieval period, but supporters of its authenticity have argued that contamination, repairs and handling may have affected those results.

The new DNA study also found evidence of centuries of human contact, including skin bacteria, fungi, plants and animal material from different parts of the world.

Researchers detected biological traces linked to Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean and other regions, showing that the cloth had been exposed to numerous environments throughout history.

Some plant material found on the Shroud was linked to species that became common in Europe centuries after the time of Jesus, further complicating efforts to determine its exact origin.

The scientists concluded that while the findings provide new information about the Shroud’s history and possible geographical connections, they cannot determine whether the linen dates back to the first century or whether it was connected to Jesus.

The discovery has nevertheless reignited one of history’s most enduring debates – whether the mysterious image preserved on the Shroud of Turin is linked to the crucifixion and resurrection story central to Christianity.

The Plateau Democratic Movement (PDM), has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged abuse of office in the removal of Mr Amos Azi as Chairman of the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST).

The petition, signed by the group’s Chairman, Ishaya Turba and Secretary, Iliya Mangai, was addressed to the ICPC’s chairman and made available to newsmen on Fiday in Lokoja, Kogi, North CentralNigeria.

The PDM questioned the sudden coming in of Mr Aminu Junaidu as IST Chairman shortly after Azi secured a second tenure.

The group argued that Azi was appointed by President Bola Tinubu, while Junaidu allegedly got the directive to take over the position from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The PDM also copied the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the SGF, the Minister of Finance, Senate Committee on Capital Market, EFCC and Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The group said it was moved to write the petition following ICPC’s recent uncovering of fictitious agencies operating under the office of the SGF.

It said the development at the IST, a statutory body for resolution of capital market disputes, has also generated public concerns.

‘We have been following and monitoring recent events concerning fake agencies and fake chief executives of those agencies by your commission.

‘We believe the issue of fake appointment and fake agencies is related to what recently happened at the IST.

‘At the IST, Azi, who was duly appointed by the presidency, found himself dragging his position with one junaidu who claimed to have been appointed by the office of the SGF.

‘We hereby submit this petition to you for an urgent and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Barr. Aminu Junaidu as Chairman of the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) and the circumstances surrounding his reported assumption of control of the tribunal.’

The group said its concern was borne out of the conviction that the IST, with a mandate to resolve capital market disputes, must be headed and administered strictly in accordance with its enabling law.

According to PDM, any irregularity concerning its leadership has the potential to undermine public confidence, the rule of law, and confidence in Nigeria’s capital-market regulatory framework.

It, therefore, urged the commission to investigate how Junaidu assumed the office on Oct. 2, 2025 under alleged controversial circumstances.

‘This development immediately raised serious concerns because the statutory framework governing the appointment of the chairman of the tribunal is specifically prescribed in the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025,’ it said.

It would be recalled that Azi was first appointed as IST boss on July 17, 2020, and reappointed on Aug.13, 2025 by the president.

Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, on Thursday, inaugurated 6,030 newly recruited teachers and 345 non-teaching staff into the state civil service.

In a speech at the ceremony in Owerri, Uzodimma described the inauguration as a ‘major step towards revitalising the education sector’.

He said the recruitment was designed to address acute teacher shortage and restore dignity to the teaching profession in the state.

He said, ‘I want to make Imo teachers the most important civil servants in the state,’ and promised that their salary payments would be top priority to the government.

The governor disclosed that the new teachers had been deployed to public schools within their native communities to ensure equitable distribution of personnel and bridge the rural-urban staffing gap.

He announced plans to distribute digital teaching devices to the teachers, while charging them to protect school infrastructure, maintain hygienic learning environments, and foster close ties with parents and community leaders.

Earlier in a remark, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, described the mass recruitment as a ‘historic milestone’, stemming from a comprehensive needs assessment across all the 27 LGAs.

Ikegwuoha said the initiative was built on the broader educational reforms in the state, including the recovery and renaming of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, as well as the establishment of new tertiary institutions.

Responding on behalf of the new teachers, Mrs Philomena Maduako thanked the governor for creating the job opportunity and pledged their commitment to raising educational standards, in line with the state policies.

The event featured the symbolic presentation of computer tablets to selected teachers, while others were directed to receive theirs after their biometric enrollment.