Category: PM News

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday admitted Bello Bodejo, the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, to N2 billion bail with two sureties in the like sum.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Bodejo’s bail application, ordered that one of the sureties must present three years tax clearance before the court and must reside in Abuja.

Justice Ekwo, also ordered that the second surety must have a land worth N2 billion in Abuja.

The judge equally ordered Bodejo to drop his international passport with the registrar of the court and must not travel outside the country without the leave of the court.

The judge agreed that the offence with which the defendant was charged was bailable and the court has the discretionary power to exercise this in his favour.

He adjourned the matter until Oct. 5, Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 for commencement of trial.

Justice Ekwo had, on July 9, remanded the Miyetti Allah president in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s custody.

The judge gave the order following Bodejo’s arraignment by the EFCC on alleged money laundering offences.

EFCC through its Counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, had named Bodejo as sole defendant in the charge dated June 24 and filed June 25.

After the charge was read to Bodejo, he pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Shittu then applied for a trial date and urged the court to order his remand.

Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court about the bail application for his client.

Moving the motion, Raji said the application was dated and filed on June 30.

The lawyer submitted that the offences with which Bodejo was charged bordered on money laundering.

According to him, under Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), they are bailable offences.

He, therefore, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail.

But Shittu opposed Raji’s application for bail. (NAN)

Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have uncovered a major drug warehouse in Benin City, the state capital.

The State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who disclosed his in a statement on Monday, noted that a husband and wife linked to the illicit trade were arrested by the operatives.

According to him, a raid was carried out at their residential building along Sapele Road, following credible intelligence on the couple’s activities.

The suspects, Christian Chukwuka (32), and his wife Nwanneka Christian (33), who are both indigenes of Ndokwa in Delta State, were arrested at the warehouse where they allegedly stored and distributed narcotics.

During the operation, NDLEA officers seized 22 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 219.5kg, and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 192.67kg, totaling 412.17kg of illicit drugs.

Commander Ofoyeju said the bust underscores the growing concern over drug trafficking and abuse in the state.

‘Our efforts to combat drug trafficking remain unwavering. We will thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that justice is served,’ he stated.

In his statement, one of the suspects, Christian Chukwuka, blamed poverty and unemployment for his actions.

‘I am a secondary school graduate and a truck driver, but joblessness made a friend introduce me to drug trafficking. My wife and I have twins to cater for and the financial pressure was too much. If given another chance, I will not go back to drugs,’ he pleaded.

The NDLEA Commander confirmed that investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court soon.

The agency described the seizure as one of the biggest drug busts in Edo this year, and reiterated its commitment to ridding communities of illegal drug operations.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of 26 persons, including former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, into the boards and management of 10 federal government agencies and commissions.

The appointments, announced on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, take immediate effect.

Fayose was named Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), where he will head the agency’s board alongside the Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and other executive and non-executive members.

Also appointed is Major General Junaid Bindawa (retd.), who will chair the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

Former Lagos lawmaker Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas was named Secretary of the commission, while several commissioners and members representing different states were also appointed.

President Tinubu also redeployed Tosin Johnson Adeyanju from the National Lottery Trust Fund to serve as Secretary of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Other appointments include Dr Abuh Mohammed as Director-General of the National Population Commission, Dr Akinola Odeyemi as Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), and Dr Anthony Inalegwu Godwin as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

Engineer Julius Oloro was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, replacing the late Dr A.R. Kamal, while Dr Abdullahi Maikano Saidu was named Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission with six other members constituting the board.

The President also appointed Shuni Muhammad Dahiru as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, replacing Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, who was earlier reassigned to the Petroleum Trust Development Fund.

In another appointment, Gisaor Vincent Iorja was named Executive Director (Finance) of the Federal Housing Authority, replacing Mathias Byuan, who resigned to pursue his governorship ambition in Benue State.

According to the Presidency, all the appointments take effect immediately.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday presented compensation cheques worth N3 billion to 331 residents whose land and property were acquired for major road infrastructure projects across the state.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that development is pursued with fairness and respect for citizens’ rights.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, the governor said the compensation reflected the state’s resolve to balance infrastructure development with social justice, stressing that government has a moral obligation to protect the interests of citizens affected by public projects.

Sanwo-Olu said the exercise was more than the distribution of compensation cheques, describing it as a demonstration of responsible governance where development is pursued with a human face.

‘Behind every development corridor is a community. Behind every parcel of land is a story. Behind every acquisition are individuals whose lives are directly touched by the decisions of government,’ he said.

According to the governor, whenever the state invokes its powers under the Land Use Act to acquire land for overriding public interest, it assumes a corresponding responsibility to compensate affected property owners fairly, transparently and without unnecessary delay.

‘This is not charity; it is justice. It is not a favour; it is your right,’ he said, adding that sustainable development can only be achieved when public trust is protected through fairness and accountability.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the N3 billion compensation would be paid to 331 Project Affected Persons (PAPs) whose properties were acquired for strategic road projects designed to improve transportation, ease traffic congestion and stimulate economic activities across Lagos.

He explained that every claim underwent a rigorous verification process, including enumeration, professional valuation by certified estate surveyors and confirmation of ownership, to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries received compensation.

The governor said the road projects would enhance connectivity across the state, reduce travel time, facilitate commerce, strengthen regional integration and unlock new economic opportunities for millions of Lagos residents.

He, however, acknowledged that while such infrastructure projects ultimately benefit the larger population, the immediate burden is often borne by individuals whose land and property are acquired.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Sanwo-Olu thanked them for their understanding and cooperation, describing their sacrifices as invaluable contributions to the continued growth and transformation of Lagos.

‘Your sacrifice is acknowledged, your contribution is appreciated, and your partnership in the development of Lagos State will never be taken for granted. Your cooperation is helping to shape a Lagos that future generations will inherit with pride,’ he said.

The governor urged recipients to make prudent use of the compensation by investing in productive ventures, securing the future of their families and rebuilding stronger.

He added that officials of the Lagos State Lands Bureau would continue to provide guidance and documentation support to beneficiaries requiring further assistance.

Sanwo-Olu also assured residents whose compensation claims were still being processed that no genuine claimant would be overlooked, urging them to remain patient as the verification process continues.

He warned individuals attempting to exploit the compensation exercise through fraudulent claims that government would not tolerate any form of abuse.

‘The same diligence that protects genuine owners will expose impostors,’ he cautioned.

The governor commended officials of the Lagos State Lands Bureau, estate surveyors and valuers, land surveyors, engineers, town planners, community leaders and other stakeholders for ensuring that the compensation exercise was conducted with professionalism, transparency and integrity.

He said the administration was not merely acquiring land to construct infrastructure but was also strengthening public confidence in government by fulfilling its legal and moral obligations to affected residents.

‘We are not simply acquiring land to build infrastructure; we are building trust and laying the foundation for the Lagos of tomorrow,’ Sanwo-Olu said.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a Greater Lagos that delivers sustainable development while protecting the rights and welfare of its citizens.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday departed Abuja to attend the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Shettima, who will represent President Bola Tinubu at the regional event, will join other political and business leaders across West Africa and beyond, at the summit.

The summit is scheduled to take place at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, Freetown, on Sunday, July 19.

The summit would focus on key policy decisions, strategic resolutions, and reaffirm the leaders’ collective commitment to peace, democracy, economic growth, and regional integration.

It will bring together Heads of State and Government, Ministers, senior officials and regional institutions to advance the community’s shared priorities of security, economic integration, trade and sustainable development.

The vice president will return to Abuja at the conclusion of his engagements in the West African nation.

A demolition exercise in Kano Municipal Local Government Area of Kano State ended in a dramatic rescue on Sunday after a worker was trapped beneath a collapsed fence wall.

The incident occurred at Kofar Mata Zango, where emergency responders from the Kano State Fire Service rescued the victim alive before he was taken to hospital for treatment.

In a statement issued by the service’s Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the agency said it received an emergency call at about 8.49 a.m. from Naziru Ahmad, who alerted officials to the accident.

Firefighters were immediately dispatched from the service headquarters and discovered that a residential building measuring about 30 by 20 feet was undergoing demolition when the incident happened.

According to the statement, the fence wall suddenly gave way, trapping one of the workers, identified as Sadiq Ahmad, as he tried to flee the collapsing structure.

‘Our rescue team immediately commenced operations and successfully rescued the victim alive. He was taken to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and handed over to his brother, Naziru Ahmad, for medical attention,’ the statement read.

The Fire Service said investigations had begun to determine what led to the collapse.

It also appealed to residents, contractors and construction workers to make safety a priority during demolition and building projects.

‘We urge members of the public to observe all necessary safety measures during demolition and construction works to avoid preventable accidents,’ the statement added.

Billionaire businessman Deji Adeleke has alleged that some corps members and police officers are responsible for manipulating election results, arguing that the blame cannot always be placed on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Adeleke, President of Adeleke University and elder brother of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, said no INEC chairman could single-handedly prevent rigging across thousands of polling units.

He spoke on Sunday during the university’s 12th undergraduate and eighth postgraduate convocation ceremonies in Ede, Osun State.

‘You cannot blame that on the INEC chairman when youth corps members are collecting ?50,000 and changing figures at the polling unit,’ Adeleke said.

‘Even if the INEC chairman is a spirit, is he going to be at all the polling units in Nigeria?’

Citing the forthcoming election in Osun, Adeleke said the state has 3,763 polling units, making it impossible for the INEC chairman to personally supervise activities at every location.

‘Is it humanly possible for the INEC chairman to be at all those polling units at the same time?’ he asked.

‘But they have entrusted it to young people like you, and yet they will collect money and change the figures.’

He also accused some police officers deployed for election security of aiding and abetting electoral malpractice despite having children whose futures depend on a functioning country.

‘We also have policemen with children who need a good country to have a future, aiding and abetting the rigging process, and people are killed just because of elections,’ he said.

Adeleke warned that election violence and result manipulation were damaging Nigeria’s international reputation and causing the country to be perceived as ‘primitive and backward’ despite the talents of its citizens.

He also criticised judges who pervert justice, warning that Nigeria would continue to suffer the consequences if those entrusted with public responsibilities refused to change.

‘It’s not too late for us to change. It’s never too late to start all over,’ he added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent warm wishes to Segun Olulade, the Executive Director of Customer Centricity and Marketing at Galaxy Backbone Limited, on his 55th birthday, July 20.

Segun ‘Eleniyan’ Olulade is a Lagos State grassroots politician, two-term member of the State House of Assembly, waste management expert, youth advocate, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose life has been marked by hard work, selflessness and integrity.

The President joined his family, political and business associates, friends and well-wishers in celebrating the unassuming lawmaker and economist whose career has been marked by a deep-rooted passion for community development.

He noted that his commitment to expanding economic opportunities for citizens and supporting causes that create lasting value across Lagos State and Nigeria.

President Tinubu also commended Olulade’s contributions to national development, youth empowerment, enterprise development, and commitment to a cleaner Lagos.

‘Your interventions in education, healthcare, the environment and youth development, especially through the Eleniyancares Leadership Foundation, have helped to bring a new lease of life to many,’ the President states.

President Tinubu prayed that Almighty God will grant the dynamic and result-oriented youth advocate continued good health, wisdom, and strength as he celebrates this special birthday, and wishes him many more years of purposeful service, impactful leadership, and fulfilment.

Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), becoming only the second woman to lead the country’s foremost legal body in its history.

Badejo-Okusanya secured victory in the NBA’s 2026 national officers’ election after polling 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast, to defeat two fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria- Lateef Akangbe, who garnered 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent), and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, who polled 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent).

Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the results at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja on Sunday following the conclusion of the election, which was delayed by technical glitches and a cyberattack on the association’s electronic voting infrastructure.

A total of 26,106 votes were cast in the election.

Badejo-Okusanya will serve a two-year tenure from 2026 to 2028, succeeding Afam Osigwe, SAN. Her election marks a significant milestone for the association, making her the first woman to lead the NBA in more than three decades after Mrs. Priscilla Kuye, who served as president between 1991 and 1992.

Other officials elected into the NBA National Executive Committee include Mr. Oghenero Okoro as First Vice-President with 11,024 votes, Mr. Afam Okeke as General Secretary with 8,478 votes, Mrs. Aghogho Gladys as Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, and Mrs. Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam as Welfare Secretary with 14,911 votes.

The president-elect was absent when the results were announced.

Explaining her absence, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, said flight delays prevented her from attending the declaration, adding that she remained committed to fostering unity within the Bar by reaching out to her opponents.

Speaking after the announcement, outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, revealed that the election overcame determined efforts to undermine its credibility, including a cyberattack that forced the Electoral Committee to rebuild and migrate its ICT infrastructure to a more secure server.

He commended the Electoral Committee for ensuring the successful completion of the exercise despite the challenges.

‘Our colleagues planned to truncate the election, but we stood firm. Every effort to derail this process failed,’ Osigwe said.

Describing the cyberattack as a wake-up call, he stressed the need for stronger cybersecurity measures and better protection of the association’s digital infrastructure.

Osigwe urged the newly elected officers to be magnanimous in victory and appealed to unsuccessful candidates to support the incoming leadership in the interest of the unity and progress of the association.

‘The unity of the Bar cannot and should never be negotiated,’ he said, expressing confidence that the new leadership would build on the achievements of the outgoing administration while addressing identified shortcomings.

Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has described the late Rev. Dr. William Okoye as a rare spiritual leader whose legacy would endure.

Obi made the remarks during a condolence visit to the family of Okoye on Saturday in Abuja.

Okoye, a former Aso Villa Chaplain and Founder/General Overseer of All Christians Fellowship Mission (ACFM), died peacefully on Wednesday.

A statement signed by Rev. Godwin Tsee announced the death on behalf of the Board of Trustees and National Executive Council of the mission.

The statement described Okoye as a faithful servant who dedicated his life to God and humanity.

It said Okoye served as Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel during the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

Obi said he received the news of Okoye’s death with profound sadness, describing the cleric as his elder brother and a distinguished servant of God.

‘Rev. Okoye lived a life defined by deep faith, sacrificial service and commitment to raising men and women of integrity.

‘He belonged to a rare generation of spiritual leaders who measured ministry by its impact on humanity, not the size of its platforms,’ he said.

Obi said the late cleric inspired countless people through his teachings, leadership and personal example.

‘He consistently challenged people to embrace righteousness, discipline, hope and purposeful living’.

He described the cleric’s death as a huge loss to his family, All Christians Fellowship Mission (ACFM), the Body of Christ and Nigeria.

‘At this critical time, Nigeria needs voices that unite, heal and inspire justice, peace and compassion. Rev. Okoye was one of such voices’.

He urged Nigerians to preserve the cleric’s legacy by living selflessly, loving sincerely and serving humanity faithfully.

‘Though his earthly journey has ended, the values he embodied will continue to speak for generations,’ Obi said.

Responding on behalf of the family, Mr Victor Okoye, one of the deceased’s sons, thanked Nigerians for their prayers and support.

‘We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming love shown to our family since my father’s passing.

‘My father taught us that true greatness is measured by service to God and humanity, and we remain committed to preserving that legacy.

‘He lived what he preached and impacted lives with humility, compassion and unwavering faith,’ he said.

Victor urged friends, church members and associates to honour the late cleric by upholding the values he championed.

‘We ask for continued prayers as we celebrate a life devoted to Christ and service to humanity,’ he said.

The late cleric is survived by six children and nine grandchildren, including Victor Okoye, a journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria.