Category: PM News

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike on Tuesday explained how his Rainbow Coalition, the amalgam of different political parties he brought together for the purpose of the 2027 election in Rivers State will work.

Wike made the explanation during a media chat in Abuja on Tuesday.

He explained that the coalition brought the different political parties to work for the collective interest of Rivers people in the 2027 elections.

The Minister, who was a former governor of Rivers explained that the coalition was deliberately designed to move beyond party affiliations by supporting candidates considered most capable of serving the state’s interests.

He noted that although the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the ruling party at the national level, and in Rivers, other parties have good candidates that should be supported for the interest of the people.

‘Now, what we have is a situation where the Labor Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), APC, Action Alliance and we have candidates for House of Assembly, National Assembly from these parties.

‘Candidate B appears to be more presentable. So, we’ll choose Candidate B in the Social Democratic Party. Candidate A is more acceptable for this position so we will choose him and so on.

‘In the National Assembly, APC cannot win all seats. PDP cannot win all seats, so we will agree together who gets what.

‘If APC wins in this place, PDP wins in that place, we are all together for the interest of our state.

‘If the coalition candidate we’re going to pick at the end of the day wins, he’s not to be seen as APC/ he will not be seen as PDP. He’s to be seen as a member of the coalition,’ he said.

The minister said such an arrangement would work for the benefit of all.

For the presidential seat, the minister said it would be President Bola Tinubu all the way in Rivers and urged opposition politicians to cancel Rivers from their electoral calculations.

He said that the coalition comprising members of all major political parties had resolved to work together in the interest of Rivers while backing Tinubu’s re-election.

‘If anybody is counting Rivers, go now and cancel it. The only person that can win in Rivers is Tinubu.

‘I’m not talking because I want to talk; I’m talking as a political realist because I know my people.

‘The alliance is gaining widespread acceptance across the state and all we are doing is for one purpose – to support Tinubu. It is all-inclusive and it is spreading like wildfire,’ he said.

The minister dismissed suggestions that the arrangement was intended to strengthen any particular political party, insisting that the overriding objective was to attract greater development to Rivers.

‘For me, what matters is Rivers. If Rivers is relevant because projects are coming and people are benefiting from the government, then I am satisfied.

‘It is not about personal ambition; it is about the interest of the state,’ he stated.

Wike, who traced his political career from local government chairman to governor, minister and other leadership positions, said his experience had taught him that successful politics requires strategic thinking and an understanding of the people’s expectations.

‘I have been in politics since 1999. Nobody can teach me politics or tell me how to navigate it. Politics is about leadership and understanding the interests of your people,’ he said.

A fake lawyer identified as John Nwawuto Anoruo has been convicted for impersonation and possession of a forged seal of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, by Lagos State High Court.

Anoruo was convicted by Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to two-count charge bordering on the use of a counterfeit NBA seal and impersonation filed against him by EFCC.

Anoruo, who operates a legal and educational consultancy in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, was arrested by operatives of the EFCC on Monday, April 20, 2026.

His case began after he submitted a petition dated September 22, 2025, to the EFCC on behalf of his clients against the management of Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited.

Investigations, however, revealed that both the petition and a subsequent Letter of Withdrawal dated March 5, 2026, bore a forged NBA seal, which Anoruo admittedly obtained from an undisclosed business centre in Lagos.

In the course of investigations, the 55-year-old claimed that although he obtained a law degree in 2018 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, through evening classes, he did not attend the Nigerian Law School.

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Anoruo was arraigned on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC on a two-count charge bordering on the use of a counterfeit NBA seal and impersonation.

One of the counts reads:

‘That you, JOHN NWAWUTO ANORUO, sometime between 2025 and 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently used a counterfeited seal titled ‘Nigerian Bar Association’ with Supreme Court Number SCN037400, with intent that same be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366(1) and punishable under Section 365(1)(x) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.’

The second count stated that the defendant, on September 4, 2025, falsely represented himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as a legal practitioner duly certified to practice law in Nigeria and as the holder of a Nigerian Bar Association seal bearing Supreme Court Number SCN037400, which lawfully belonged to another legal practitioner, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 382 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

He pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charges preferred against him.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Saadatu Mahmud Yabo, called Umar Faruk Ahmad, an investigating officer with the EFCC, to review the facts of the case.

In his testimony, Ahmad told the court that the Commission, on April 15, 2026, received a petition dated April 14, 2026, from a legal practitioner, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika.

According to the witness, the petitioner alleged that Anoruo had filed a petition against him and his law firm while falsely presenting himself as a legal practitioner.

Ahmad stated that investigations revealed that the Supreme Court enrolment number on the NBA seal used by the defendant belonged to another legal practitioner.

He further informed the court that the defendant admitted obtaining the counterfeit NBA seal from a business centre in Lagos and confirmed that he was not called to the Nigerian Bar.

The witness also disclosed that the defendant earned N7,500,000.00 (Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from the legal brief in question, out of which he paid N1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to a qualified legal practitioner to handle the matter on his behalf.

Ahmad further testified that when the defendant honoured the EFCC’s invitation, he came to the Commission’s office with a legal practitioner’s attire, adding that a subsequent search of his residence led to the recovery of the counterfeit NBA seal bearing the Supreme Court enrolment number of another lawyer.

Through the investigating officer, the prosecution tendered in evidence the petition written by Olumide-Fusika; the defendant’s extra-judicial statement made under caution; investigation letters sent by the EFCC to the Body of Benchers and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, together with their responses; the legal practitioner’s attire recovered from the defendant; the counterfeit NBA seal; and evidence of a N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) bank draft paid by the defendant into the EFCC’s recovery account.

The witness also identified the legal practitioner’s attire produced before the court as the same one the defendant brought to the EFCC’s office during interrogation.

The defence counsel, G.E. Demkemefa, raised no objection to the admissibility of the exhibits, following which Justice Lawal admitted and marked them as Exhibits 1 to 9.

During his allocutus, the defendant informed the court that he paid N2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to the individual who introduced the legal brief to him and N1,500,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) to the lawyer he engaged to handle the matter.

Yabo thereafter urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant in accordance with his guilty plea.

She also prayed the court to order the forfeiture of all the exhibits to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Lawal held that ‘In view of the plea of the defendant, the defendant is hereby convicted on the two counts.’

The defence counsel, thereafter, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, describing the defendant as a first-time offender who did not waste the time of either the EFCC or the court.

He added that the defendant ‘is the breadwinner of his family, comprising his wife and five children,’ and urged the court to impose the option of a fine rather than a custodial sentence.

Justice Lawal subsequently sentenced the defendant to a fine of N120,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) on count one and N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) on count two, bringing the total fine to N270,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira), payable to the Lagos State Judiciary.

The court also ordered that the legal practitioner’s attire and the forged NBA seal recovered from the defendant be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) women in the South-East on Tuesday unveiled plans to hold a mega rally for mobilisation of support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections in Enugu on August 18.

The APC South-East Women Leader, Dr Oby Ajir, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference organised by the National Coordinating Committee of the South-East Women Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme.

Ajir said the event would bring together women from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

According to her, the rally, themed ‘One Region, One Vision, Victory for Tinubu 2027, ‘is also intended to mobilise support for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

She said the programme would also include an empowerment initiative for women, featuring grants and start-up support for traders, farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the distribution of skills acquisition equipment.

Ajir added that participants would receive political leadership training aimed at encouraging greater involvement of women in elective and party positions.

Speaking at the event, Sen. Uche Ekwunife, a banker and a Nigerian politician who was recently a Senator representing the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District, said the rally would provide an opportunity for APC supporters in the zone to express support for Tinubu and publicise what she described as his administration’s achievements in the South-East.

Also, Mrs Ginika Florence-Tor, Principal Liaison Officer to the APC Deputy National Chairman (South-East), said women from the five South-East states were expected to participate in the programme.

Similarly, Dr Princess Akubundu, National Organising Secretary of the Tinubu Torch Bearers Group, said the organisers expected the rally to mobilise support for APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The organisers said the event would combine political mobilisation with an empowerment programme targeted at women across different sectors of the economy.

The Oyo State Government has announced the commencement of the enforcement of mandatory waste bin provision for all residential and commercial buildings across the state.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Ademola Aderinto, in a statement on Monday in Ibadan, said that the government had given residents and property owners one month to comply with the directive.

Aderinto warned that stringent enforcement operation will begin on Sept. 1, 2026.

The Commissioner noted that the initiative was part of the government’s renewed efforts to strengthen environmental sanitation and ensure proper waste management across Oyo State.

He further explained that every household, residential building, business premises, shopping complex, and plaza must provide designated waste bins.

He added that waste bins must be commensurate with the size of the building, the number of occupants, and the volume of waste generated.

The commissioner stressed that all residents and business owners must patronize only government-accredited Private Sector Participants (PSPs) responsible for waste collection and evacuation.

He warned that anyone found engaging unapproved waste contractors or disposing of waste through unauthorized means would face the full weight of the law.

Aderinto urged members of the public experiencing challenges with waste collection services or those uncertain about accredited PSP operators to report to the Oyo State Solid Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA).

The commissioner added that residents could also contact the Department of Environmental Health Services under his ministry for necessary guidance and clarification.

He further revealed that government’s enforcement teams would also verify evidence of payment of waste evacuation fees during inspections.

He added that residents and businesses were expected to remain up to date with their monthly waste disposal payments as part of the requirements for compliance.

The commissioner explained that the new enforcement exercise is an extension of the state’s daily environmental sanitation initiative.

He emphasised that having waste bins and engaging accredited PSPs were not sufficient if the surroundings remained dirty.

Lenzo Homes Ltd has unveiled EcoView Estate, a new residential development in Karsana, Abuja, designed to offer sustainable, family-oriented living through green energy solutions, spacious housing, and modern infrastructure.

The company said the estate, which bears the tagline ‘Smart Living Inspired by Nature,’ reflects its commitment to creating environmentally friendly communities that combine comfort, security, and long-term value for homeowners and investors.

Located directly behind the Papal Ground in Karsana, the estate is positioned within one of Abuja’s fastest-growing development corridors. According to Lenzo Homes, the location is approximately 10 minutes from the city centre and sits along a major government infrastructure corridor leading to Renewed Hope City, the Federal Government’s flagship mass housing project aimed at addressing the housing deficit in the Federal Capital Territory.

The company noted that EcoView Estate’s strategic location offers both residential convenience and strong investment potential as development in the area continues to expand.

To cater to different housing needs and budgets, Lenzo Homes has introduced a variety of plot sizes and building options. These include 180-square-metre plots for three-bedroom terraced duplexes, 250-square-metre plots for three-bedroom semi-detached duplexes, 350-square-metre plots for four-bedroom fully detached duplexes, 500-square-metre plots for five-bedroom fully detached homes, and 1,000-square-metre plots suitable for three-bedroom blocks of flats or larger-scale developments.

The developer said all housing designs have been planned with generous living spaces to promote comfort and functionality for residents.

EcoView Estate will feature a range of modern amenities, including a central treated water supply, 24-hour security surveillance with CCTV, green power supply, street lighting, landscaped parks, and ample parking spaces.

Lenzo Homes also disclosed that the estate’s title has been fully registered and allocated directly to the company by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), providing legal assurance for prospective buyers and investors.

According to the company, the project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), which promotes inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities through improved access to quality housing, essential services, and green public spaces.

Company representatives described EcoView Estate as Lenzo Homes’ contribution to Nigeria’s housing development efforts and the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The development is targeted at families seeking modern, spacious homes in a secure environment, as well as investors looking to take advantage of Abuja’s growing real estate market.

Lenzo Homes said interested buyers and investors can contact the company to make enquiries or arrange site inspections.

Gov. Uba Sani has presented letters of reinstatement letters to 37 Unified Local Government Service workers wrongfully disengaged during the administration of former governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Chairman, Kaduna State Local Government Service Board, Prof. Aminu Suleiman presented the reinstatement letters to affected workers in Kaduna.

Suleiman said the reinstatement followed recommendations of a committee constituted by the previous administration after complaints by the affected workers.

He said the committee established the workers were unjustly disengaged and recommended their reinstatement, but the recommendation was never implemented.

According to him, the workers petitioned the present administration, prompting the board to review their case and forward its recommendations through appropriate government channels.

He said Gov. Sani approved their immediate reinstatement after confirming they were wrongly disengaged.

Suleiman said some of the 37 affected workers had died, while others had retired before the approval was granted.

He said serving officers would return to their respective local government councils with immediate effect.

The chairman added that retirement benefits for retired workers would be processed, while entitlements due deceased workers would be paid to their families.

He described the governor as compassionate and committed to justice, saying the approval reflected responsiveness to genuine grievances.

Suleiman commended the Head of Service, Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Ministry for Local Government Affairs and other stakeholders for supporting the process.

Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Kaduna State, Ayuba Suleiman, described the reinstatement as evidence of the governor’s labour-friendly disposition.

He said the labour movement had consistently assured workers that the administration remained committed to fairness and justice.

According to him, the Unified Local Government Service workforce declined from over 16,000 workers in 2014 to slightly above 3,000 currently.

He expressed concern that about 800 additional workers were expected to retire before the end of the year.

The labour leader urged government to address manpower shortages and sustain reforms to strengthen local government administration.

Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Kaduna, Abdullahi Dan Fulani, welcomed the reinstatement and urged prompt payment of outstanding entitlements.

Speaking on behalf of the reinstated workers, Mrs Michal Anga thanked the governor for approving their return after years of pursuing the matter.

Anga said the affected workers rejected calls to seek legal action, choosing instead to follow due process.

She said their perseverance eventually yielded positive results, describing the approval as a victory for justice and patience.

The workers also appreciated the Local Government Service Board and other officials for facilitating the reinstatement process.

Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo says his administration has not borrowed any money since he assumed office.

Soludo disclosed this on Monday while speaking at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit.

The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor also argued that the Nigerian economy had stabilised and was beginning to recover.

‘Nigeria has stabilised and is on the rise. I haven’t borrowed a dime since I became governor,’ he said.

Soludo maintained that prudent management of public resources could help state governments deliver development without accumulating unsustainable debts.

He also urged Nigerians to patronise locally manufactured products, warning that the country could not create the desired number of jobs while depending heavily on imports.

‘We cannot create the kind of jobs we want with all of us using foreign or imported goods,’ Soludo said.

‘I look in this room, and I see suits from Europe, America and China.’

The governor estimated that Nigeria could create more than 10 million jobs if its population deliberately embraced locally produced clothing and other goods.

‘If all 247 million Nigerians wear only made-in-Nigeria, more than 10 million jobs will be created,’ he added.

Soludo has consistently promoted locally manufactured products, particularly textiles, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic industries and generate employment.

Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has condemned the persistent killings across Nigeria, declaring that he would pray against the perpetrators and their sponsors.

Oyedepo spoke during a church service while reacting to the July 27 attack in Kaduna, where gunmen reportedly killed at least 30 people, including women and children.

The cleric described those behind the violence as destructive agents and warned that judgment awaited them, whether they were in government or outside it.

‘Woe to all destructive agents in Nigeria. Whether in power or out of power, judgment has finally come,’ he said.

Oyedepo rejected calls for religious leaders to pray for the attackers, arguing that those responsible for killing innocent people should face consequences.

‘You can’t slaughter members of my family and want me to pray for you. I pray against you, against your household, against your generation, in the name of Jesus,’ he said.

The bishop also alleged that the gunmen were being sponsored by powerful individuals.

‘Everybody knows that these wicked people are being sponsored. Anyone who doesn’t know that, that’s a problem,’ he said.

He subsequently pronounced a curse on those allegedly financing the attacks.

‘Every sponsor of killers in Nigeria, you come under a curse today,’ Oyedepo declared.

The cleric also questioned the Federal Government’s response to the recurring killings, saying he had not heard a strong official condemnation of the latest attack.

‘You mean they kill people every day and government is pretending not to know what to do?’ he asked.

‘I have not heard any statement from government quarters against the killings. I’m yet to hear one, sir. Is human life not of value anymore?’

Oyedepo warned that the continued violence and perceived silence of the authorities could provoke divine judgment.

‘When you see God keep quiet at the wickedness of the wicked, it is because the bubble is about to burst,’ he said.

‘As the Lord lives, this bubble will burst. Go and hide anywhere. The bubble will burst.’

Some northern youth groups in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have threatened to withdraw their support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election if their concerns over alleged marginalisation are not addressed.

The warning followed a meeting between the North-West APC Youth Stakeholders Forum, led by its Coordinating Chairman, Bashir Ruma, and the Arewa Democratic Youth Stakeholders Forum.

In a statement signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Salawudeen Shaibu Planner, the group claimed that northern youths have been excluded from important political appointments, youth leadership positions and decision-making within the APC and the Federal Government.

The group said it would begin mobilising APC support groups across the North to oppose what it described as unfair treatment and sectional politics.

It also announced Haruna Sardauna as coordinator for the North-East and Idiriss Jibrin as coordinator for the North-Central, with the responsibility of engaging APC support groups and stakeholders in their regions.

According to the forum, many APC support group leaders are ready to join a campaign against what they described as tribal discrimination. They insisted that political opportunities should be open to all young Nigerians, regardless of where they come from.

The group said it had directed 1,378 registered APC support group leaders across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory to begin consultations on whether to withdraw support for Tinubu’s second-term bid if their complaints are ignored.

A major part of the group’s allegations was directed at Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son. The forum accused him of influencing youth political appointments and leadership positions in ways that favour people from the South-West, especially the Yoruba ethnic group.

The forum claimed that this has left many northern youths feeling excluded. It also questioned the support allegedly given to some South-West based youth groups while northern-led APC support groups were allegedly overlooked.

The group specifically mentioned the Ministry of Youth Development, the APC youth leadership structure, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and other youth organisations as areas where it believes the imbalance exists.

It also alleged that the City Boy Movement and the Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria Movement have received special recognition because of their links to Seyi Tinubu. According to the forum, northern support groups have been pressured to work with these organisations.

The forum described the situation as unfair and called on APC leaders to ensure equal treatment for all support groups across the country.

It argued that northern voters played a major role in Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election and deserve equal political opportunities and representation.

Despite its criticism, the group urged northern youths to remain peaceful while demanding fair treatment. Bashir Ruma said the goal is to strengthen democracy by ensuring every region has a voice in youth affairs.

The forum warned that if the concerns of northern youths are ignored, it could affect APC unity, grassroots mobilisation and President Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 election.

It called on the APC leadership and President Tinubu to address the issues by ensuring political appointments and opportunities reflect Nigeria’s regional diversity.

As of the time this report was filed, the Presidency, the APC national leadership and Seyi Tinubu had not responded to the allegations.

The Kano State Censorship Board has shut down Kausar Unique Empire Ltd., popularly known as ‘Back-to-Back,’ for allegedly using indecent language and explicit illustrations in advertisements circulated on social media platforms.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Kano by the board’s spokesman, Abdullahi Sani-Sulaiman.

The board said the action followed intelligence reports and complaints from residents concerning the shop’s marketing content, which authorities described as inappropriate and offensive.

Sani-Sulaiman said the shop was sanctioned for allegedly using indecent language and explicit illustrations in advertisements circulated on social media platforms.

According to him, the promotional materials breached cultural values, moral standards and regulations governing commercial advertising activities within Kano State.

‘The advertisements violated the cultural values, moral standards and established regulations guiding commercial promotions in the state,’ he said.

He said the board acted after receiving numerous complaints from concerned citizens over the nature of the advertisements and their potential impact on society.

Sani-Sulaiman warned business operators against using digital platforms to disseminate offensive, immoral or objectionable content to the public.

‘We will not tolerate the circulation of materials that offend public decency or undermine the moral fabric of society,’ he said.

The spokesman reaffirmed the board’s commitment to sanitising public spaces and online platforms through sustained monitoring and enforcement activities.

He urged traditional medicine vendors and other business owners to conduct their operations in line with the law and accepted societal ethics.

Sani-Sulaiman noted that the board had taken similar enforcement actions against other erring shops in recent months.

He said the measures were aimed at promoting responsible advertising practices and ensuring compliance with established regulations across the state.

The spokesman added that the board would continue collaborating with relevant stakeholders to curb unethical promotional activities and protect public morality.