Category: PM News

The Police Community Relations Committee has praised the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Ahmed Sanusi,F for what it describes as significant progress in improving security across Abuja through effective leadership and strategic policing.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman of the PCRC FCT Command, Dr Rufus Ebegba, said the commissioner had recorded notable successes against criminal activities since taking over as the 35th Commissioner of Police in the territory.

According to Ebegba, Sanusi’s emphasis on intelligence gathering and proactive policing has led to the disruption of organised kidnapping rings and notorious one chance robbery syndicates operating within the FCT.

‘We commend his leadership in dismantling organised kidnapping and one chance robbery syndicates, as well as the recovery of ransom funds and arms used in these crimes.

‘These achievements demonstrate not only tactical competence but also a clear strategic vision for improving security in Abuja.

‘The PCRC also commends the commissioner for consolidating tactical units into the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU),’ Ebegba said.

He described the creation of the Violent Crime Response Unit as a major reform that had strengthened the operational capacity of the command in responding to violent crimes.

Ebegba also applauded the police commissioner for taking a firm position against extortion and other forms of misconduct among officers, while promoting stronger collaboration with other security agencies and encouraging community participation in policing.

He noted that the initiatives reflected a commitment to discipline, accountability and transparency, adding that they had helped rebuild public trust in the Nigeria Police Force and improved relations between the police and residents of the FCT.

Reaffirming the committee’s support, Ebegba said the PCRC would continue working closely with the FCT Police Command to sustain the security gains already achieved.

‘The PCRC FCT Command pledges its continued partnership and support to the FCT Police Command in sustaining the gains already made to ensure the safety and security of residents of the nation’s capital.

‘We urge you to sustain this momentum, confident that it will further enhance the safety, security and well-being of all who live, work and visit our nation’s capital,’ Ebegba said.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door meeting with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to review the country’s security situation.

The meeting focused on developments across various theatres of operation and ongoing efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats.

Those in attendance included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen.Waidi Shaibu and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.

Others are the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, retired Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunde Disu.

The meeting is expected to strengthen the nation’s

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he believes many civil servants in the FCT are unhappy with his administration, saying his decision to block what he described as wasteful spending has made him unpopular.

Wike made the revelation during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, where he said resources previously spent on foreign conferences and other activities had been redirected into infrastructure projects, especially road construction.

The minister said he rejected requests to approve large sums for overseas conferences, arguing that such funds could be better used for projects that directly benefit residents.

He said some of the spending practices he stopped provided opportunities for the diversion of public funds.

‘Some people say conferences for corruption and I say what is that? You are going for conferences to do what? These are ways government funds are being diverted. I say put this money in this road here and the people will get the impact,’ Wike said.

Explaining the reason behind his strained relationship with some workers, Wike said his reforms affected those who previously benefited from such spending.

‘And that’s why I can’t be popular among civil servants. If you ask anybody today, one minister they won’t like is me. Why? Those money for conferences, I put the money together for roads,’ he said.

Wike also revealed that he changed the FCT budget structure after assuming office, moving from a system where a larger percentage went into recurrent expenditure to one where more funds were committed to capital projects.

According to him, the shift was necessary to accelerate development in Nigeria’s capital city.

The minister has continued to face criticism over some of his policies, including reforms in land administration, demolition of illegal structures and his approach to cutting government spending.

The Court of Appeal in Lagos has affirmed the dismissal of a high-profile libel action instituted by media entrepreneur and philanthropist Mosunmola Abudu (Mo Abudu) against child rights advocate Oluyemisi Wada, delivering a judgment that further shape the contours of defamation law and public interest commentary in Nigeria.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, a three-member panel comprising Justices Muslim Sule Hassan, Folasade Ayodeji Ojo and Polycarp Terna Kwahar dismissed Abudu’s appeal and upheld the decision of the Lagos State High Court, which had earlier thrown out her claims for damages arising from an article published in THISDAY newspaper in September 2009.

Abudu had sued Wada over an opinion article titled ‘Mute Voices,’ alleging that it falsely suggested that proceeds from a charity concert organised for the benefit of street children were diverted from their intended purpose.

She sought N700 million as general damages, another N700 million as aggravated damages, a public retraction and apology in national newspapers and on the internet, as well as an order restraining further publication of the statements.

However, the appellate court found no basis to disturb the judgment of the lower court.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Muslim Hassan held that while Wada admitted authoring the publication, such admission did not automatically establish the tort of libel. According to the court, the law requires more than proof that a publication exists; a claimant must also establish, through credible evidence, that the publication was communicated to third parties in a manner that lowered the claimant’s reputation in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society.

The court rejected the appellant’s argument that the trial judge ought to have relied solely on the ordinary meaning of the published words to determine whether they were defamatory. Instead, it held that independent evidence from persons who had read the publication and whose perception of the claimant had been adversely affected remained a critical element of proof.

‘A person’s reputation is not based on the good opinion he has of himself but the estimation in which others hold him,’ the court observed, adding that publication alone, even in a widely circulated newspaper, is insufficient without evidence demonstrating its effect on third parties.

The justices noted that although Abudu testified that friends and associates contacted her after the publication, none of those individuals was called to testify during the trial. The court held that the testimony of at least one independent witness would have been sufficient to establish how the publication affected the claimant’s reputation.

Beyond the evidential burden, the Court of Appeal also upheld Wada’s reliance on the twin defences of justification and fair comment.

The justices reasoned that the controversy centred on funds raised from members of the public for charitable purposes, making the issue one of undeniable public interest. They held that citizens, particularly donors, are entitled to ask questions about the utilisation of publicly donated funds and to express opinions on matters concerning transparency and accountability.

The court further observed that Abudu, as a prominent public figure who solicited donations from the public, should reasonably expect public scrutiny regarding the administration of those funds.

‘It would not cost the appellant anything to provide explanation of her dealing with the funds generated from the public,’ the court stated, describing the publication as one that challenged greater transparency rather than one intended to destroy reputation.

Rejecting allegations of malice, the appellate court also held that Wada’s decision to report her concerns to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could not, without more, be interpreted as evidence of personal hostility or ill will. Rather, the court viewed the action as consistent with her role as a child rights advocate and a contributor to the fundraising initiative.

Justice Folasade Ayodeji Ojo, in a concurring opinion, underscored the distinction between authorship and publication in defamation law, stressing that liability cannot arise merely because a person authored a document. She maintained that publication, in law, requires proof that the allegedly defamatory material was communicated to a third party, adding that the appellant failed to produce credible evidence to satisfy that requirement.

Justice Polycarp Kwahar, who also agreed with the lead judgment, dismissed procedural objections challenging portions of the appeal but concluded that the substantive appeal lacked merit.

The ruling is also expected to resonate beyond media law by reaffirming judicial protection for fair comment on matters of public interest, particularly where charitable organisations, public fundraising and the stewardship of donated resources are involved. It signals that while reputation remains a legally protected right, the courts will equally safeguard responsible public scrutiny and legitimate criticism where transparency and accountability are at stake.

Having resolved all three issues against the appellant, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in its entirety, affirmed the judgment of the Lagos State High Court delivered on May 3, 2019, and made no order as to costs.

The Federal Government has confirmed that another group of Nigerians stranded in South Africa will arrive in Lagos on Thursday evening as the ongoing evacuation exercise continues.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the ministry said the fourth repatriation flight, operated by Air Peace, is scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 7.30 p.m.

According to the ministry, the aircraft departed South Africa with 284 passengers, comprising 272 adults and 12 infants. Two government officials are also travelling on the flight to oversee the operation.

The statement said: ‘The expected time of arrival of the 4th evacuation flight from South Africa today, operated by Air Peace at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, is 7.30pm.’

The latest operation forms part of the Federal Government’s continuing effort to bring home Nigerians who opted to leave South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks and heightened security concerns.

It is the fourth flight organised under the evacuation programme aimed at assisting affected Nigerian citizens to return safely to the country.

Lagos State is moving towards a tougher security framework as the State House of Assembly renewed its push for state police and advanced a bill seeking to ban street begging and related activities across the state.

The two measures dominated Wednesday’s plenary, with lawmakers arguing that Lagos needs stronger local security control and tighter regulation of public spaces to tackle rising criminal activities.

Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, described state police as Nigeria’s most practical answer to insecurity, saying states must be given the power to recruit, manage and deploy officers who understand local security challenges.

According to Obasa, kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes cannot be effectively tackled without allowing states greater control over policing.

He backed the proposal for governors to appoint state commissioners of police, subject to confirmation by state assemblies, while insisting that senior police appointments should also face legislative scrutiny.

Obasa dismissed concerns that state police could be abused by governors for political purposes, arguing that similar fears had existed around the federal police system.

‘We must not allow such fears to weaken a reform whose primary objective is the protection of lives and property,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Assembly advanced a bill seeking to prohibit street begging, street urchins and related activities in Lagos.

The proposed law, which passed second reading, aims to address what lawmakers described as the growing exploitation of vulnerable people and the use of begging as a cover for criminal activities.

Lawmakers said some criminals disguise themselves as beggars to commit theft, robbery and other offences, especially around traffic corridors and public spaces.

However, lawmaker Desmond Elliot warned that the legislation must not criminalise poverty, urging the government to provide rehabilitation centres and support systems for those removed from the streets.

‘We must give this legislation a human face. There should be rehabilitation centres where those taken off the streets can receive care, support and opportunities for reform,’ Elliot said.

Obasa insisted the proposed law was not aimed at stopping charity but at organising how assistance reaches vulnerable people.

He argued that indiscriminate street giving encourages organised begging and called for government-approved channels where donations can be directed.

‘If there is no giver, there will be no beggar,’ the Speaker said.

The bill has now been referred to the Assembly’s Committee on Youth and Social Development, which has been given two weeks to submit its report before further legislative action.

The immediate past Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Ahmed Dikko, has been granted bail in the sum of N150 million after pleading not guilty to charges of alleged money laundering involving more than N1.32 billion.

Dikko appeared before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday following his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He was charged alongside Masterpiece Projects and Investment Limited in a 12-count case bordering on alleged financial crimes connected with the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.

The EFCC alleged that while serving as managing director between March 2020 and 2024, Dikko diverted and concealed N1,322,839,112.70, which it described as proceeds from contracts awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for the refinery rehabilitation project.

According to the commission, the funds were allegedly laundered through cash purchases of property, concealed bank transactions, the use of third parties and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings.

One of the counts reads: ‘That you, Ahmed Adamu Dikko… did directly make cash payment of the dollar equivalent of the sum of N218,375,000 to one Hadeija Bashir for the purchase of Plot 558, Abubakar Umar Street, Katampe Extension, Abuja without passing through a financial institution,’ contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The anti-graft agency also alleged in another count: ‘That you Ahmed Adamu Dikko… on or about the 26th of June, 2023… disguised the origin of the sum of N328,710,337.50 paid into the GTBank Account… operated by Masterpiece Projects and Investment Limited by OMSA Integrated Services Limited from the transactions involving NNPC Limited allocation of Vacuum Gas Oil for export when you knew that the said sum… constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.’

In a separate charge, the EFCC accused the former refinery chief of illegally converting foreign currency, alleging: ‘That you, Ahmed Adamu Dikko between October 2022 and May 2025, did convert the aggregate sum of $77,080 through Ibrahim Isa Yaro, which amount did not form part of your known lawful earnings as a former public officer with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.’

Dikko denied all the allegations when the charges were read to him.

His lawyer, Okechukwu Ajunwa (SAN), applied for bail pending trial, while EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), opposed the request.

In his ruling, Justice Ekwo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N150 million with one surety in like amount. The court directed that the surety must live within its jurisdiction and own landed property worth at least the value of the bail.

The judge further ordered Dikko to surrender his international passport and remain in EFCC custody until he satisfies the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned until October 12, 13 and 14, 2026, for trial.

A road accident involving a truck and a commercial bus has claimed the lives of two people along the Ogbere-J4 corridor in Ogun State.

The fatal collision occurred around 5.10 a.m. on Thursday at Ogbere Junction, according to the Ogun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The crash involved a white Mack truck bearing registration number ABC660XC and an orange Peugeot J5 commercial bus, which had no visible registration number.

The FRSC said four adult men were involved in the incident. Two died at the scene, while the other two escaped without injuries.

Preliminary findings by the Corps pointed to excessive speed and route violation as the factors responsible for the collision. The force of the impact caused the Peugeot bus to catch fire, destroying its front section.

‘The probable causes of the crash were route violation (RTV) and speed violation (SPV). The impact of the collision led to the Peugeot J5 bus catching fire, with its front section completely burnt,’ the statement said.

The Command added that its emergency team reached the scene within two minutes of receiving the distress alert and immediately began traffic management to ease the flow of vehicles.

Commenting on the tragedy, the Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathised with the bereaved families and appealed to motorists to obey traffic rules at all times.

He cautioned drivers against dangerous practices such as speeding and driving against approved routes, particularly when visibility is poor or roads are wet.

‘Drivers must avoid speeding and route violations, especially during periods of poor visibility and on wet road surfaces. These dangerous driving behaviours remain major causes of fatal crashes on Nigerian roads,’ Ogunjobi said.

The FRSC reaffirmed its resolve to curb road crashes through stricter enforcement of traffic laws, sustained public awareness campaigns and rapid emergency response. It also urged motorists to keep to speed limits and ensure their vehicles are in good condition before setting out on any journey.

The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved to close ranks after its internal battles, with party leaders rallying behind Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

At a major meeting of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and other stakeholders in Akure on Wednesday, APC leaders unanimously recognised Aiyedatiwa as the party’s leader in the state and pledged support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

The meeting marked the party’s first major gathering since the conclusion of its recent primaries, with leaders focusing on reconciliation, unity and rebuilding the party’s structure ahead of future elections.

Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Chief Pius Akinyelure, said political disagreements after primaries were normal but must not be allowed to weaken the party.

He urged party leaders to put aside differences and work together to protect the APC’s political strength in the state.

‘We must resolve our differences through dialogue, mutual respect, sacrifice and selflessness,’ Akinyelure said.

Former Senator Ajayi Boroffice said the meeting resolved that all APC members must recognise Aiyedatiwa as the undisputed leader of the party in Ondo.

He added that the party would intensify mobilisation for President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The APC South-West Vice Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said more than 30 party leaders attended the meeting and reaffirmed their loyalty to Tinubu’s second-term project.

The leaders also resolved that all APC support groups in Ondo State should operate under Aiyedatiwa’s leadership to ensure better coordination ahead of the next election cycle.

The move signals the party’s attempt to present a united front after internal tensions and strengthen its political machinery ahead of 2027.

A professor of Engineering and Law and an entrepreneur, Dr Dayo Sobowale on Wednesday explained the distinction between skill acquisition and entrepreneurship at opening ceremony of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN)’s training for 2025/2026 session held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Main Campus of the institution in Osogbo.

The theme of the lecture was Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovation: Transforming Students’ Ideas into Business Enterprises

The Computer Engineer who was the guest speaker at the event said the topic of the day was a keyword that Nigeria as a nation has missed.

Sobowale stated that: ‘A lot of people do not understand what entrepreneurship is. People always mistake entrepreneurship as skills acquisition. They are two different things. Entrepreneurship is transformation of an idea to make profit. Once you have an idea that can be converted into profit making, you become an entrepreneur.’

He made a distinction between learning or doing a craft which is skill acquisition and converting the craft or skill into a profit-making venture, saying entrepreneurship is creating an idea to make profit.

He added that the individual might not even have learnt the craft or the particular skill to produce certain product or service, that he may have to employ experts to do it but he is an entrepreneur if he could convert the activity into a profit making one.

Sobowale further explained that a skilled person has the skill but lack idea, an entrepreneur might lack the skill but has the idea and how to convert the idea into profit.

‘It is easier to have skill than to have an idea,’ he argued.

Having skill, he said, makes one a professional while creating an idea to solve problem and make profit makes one an entrepreneur.

He lamented that because this was missing in Nigeria, we became a nation of consumers rather than producers.

He said difficulty in effective communication made someone to sit down, think and create an idea that brought telephone.

He asked the audience to be focused on creating ideas that make them producers who create wealth and not mere consumers.

He cited an example of China who produces the phones we use and does not allow usage of Google and Facebook in the country because, according to him, China sees them as distractions.

He explained that China generates ideas, produces products from the ideas for others to consume, thereby creating wealth for herself and her citizens.

He added that the same China who does not participate in the World Cup football event is the one who built all the artificial fields used for the World Cup. That, he said, is focus.

‘Anything you see today is an idea. After creating an idea, draw out a plan on how to realise it,’ he advised, urging the youths to spend their time on creating ideas that will lead them to success rather than wasting it on endless chatting and pornography watching on social media platforms.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, in his remarks at the ceremony said the objective of the university was to build minds.

‘Our objective is to build minds. The university is not set up to produce artisans. The university is set up all over the world to produce thinkers, so that anywhere you find yourself you will be a problem solver. That is what university is all about. And that’s what we are doing here today. We’ve been doing it every year to make the students see the areas where they can key into the economy and make a difference,’ Adebooye explained.

He urged the students undergoing the training to take the advantage of technology and the entrepreneurial workshop to think and create ideas that would bring success to them and the country.

‘When mobile phone came to the country in Feb. 2002, the best of phone that time was Samsung blue face, and then you have Nokia 3320, Nokia 3310. Then, there is one that has long horn, Trium. Anybody that had Samsung blue face at that time was envied.

‘Who could tell then that at a time telephone will come that will recognise your fingerprint? Who could tell that at a time telephone will come that will capture television signal? Who could tell at that time that at a time you could have a phone that will record voice note, even about 50 meters away, it will capture the voice? Who could tell that time that we will have a phone that will record video and also capture whatever is impossible? Here we have today! Now we have artificial intelligence. Who knows what will come after artificial intelligence?

‘So therefore, students find a space in the global field of knowledge. The vehicle of knowledge is moving very fast and people who have the zeal are launching themselves into the global vehicle of knowledge,’ the erudite professor of Engineering and Agriculture admonished.

He said the current generation of students at UNIOSUN was lucky to have access to technology and the entrepreneurial programme of the school.

He told the audience that Osun State University had built plants that produce palm oil and garri from cassava without human intervention, urging the wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs. Titilola Adeleke who was the Entrepreneurship Mother of The Day to inspect the plants after the ceremony.

Prof. Adebooye told the participating students: ‘I want you to take advantage of the opportunity presented by this entrepreneurship training. Don’t joke with it.’

He pleaded with Mrs. Adeleke to thank the governor on behalf of the university for his unrelenting support and commitment to the institution, saying things that bigger universities have not dared, UNIOSUN has achieved due to the enabling environment created by the governor.

Other participants at the programme included the CEO of Abiola Electrical Machinery Ltd. who was the Entrepreneurship Father of The Day, Engr. Abiola Abe; Young Entrepreneur of The Year, Mrs. Rofiat Afolabi; the programme Host and Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies and Innovation, Prof. Adepeju Adigun; Deans of Faculties at the university; the media, and the students from the institution’s campuses across the state.