Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Chairman of Yoruba Unity Forum and member of Afenifere Elders’ Caucus, Archbishop Emeritus Ayo Ladigbolu, and governance expert, Dr. Ayo Awoyemi, are among the leading speakers at the forthcoming Southwest Stakeholders Dialogue scheduled to hold in Akure, Ondo State.

The two-day regional forum with the theme: ‘Strengthening Democracy through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future’, will take place on October 29 and 30 at the International Conference Centre (The Dome), Akure.

Convened by Pa Reuben Fasoranti, leader of Afenifere, the dialogue is designed as a citizen-government interactive town hall session that will bring together ministers, senior federal government officials, traditional rulers, civil society leaders and other stakeholders from across the six Southwest states.

Ladigbolu will deliver a special address, while Awoyemi is billed to present the keynote address, both expected to provide thought-provoking perspectives on strengthening democratic governance and regional cooperation.

The dialogue will be hosted by Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, with co-hosts including Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

Expected participants include current and former political leaders, professional associations, youths’ and women’s groups, civil society organisations, business leaders and traditional institutions.

Discussions will focus on democratic consolidation, regional collaboration and the impact of federal policies on the Southwest.

Programme highlights include Southwest Stakeholders Confab, Southwest Governors’ Forum session on ‘Regional Collaboration: Impact of Federal Government Reforms, Policies and Programmes on Southwest States,’ and a series of thematic engagement sessions aimed at defining a common development agenda for the region.

Organised in partnership with Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, the forum seeks to foster cooperation among governments, institutions and citizens in building a more inclusive, accountable and prosperous Southwest.

Enquiries are to be directed to Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN) and Dr. Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of the DAWN Commission.

With Ladigbolu and Awoyemi leading key sessions, the Akure dialogue promises to generate far-reaching ideas on democracy, governance and future of development in the Yoruba-speaking Southwest states.

As part of its efforts to close the about seven million metering gap in the power sector, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved the disbursement of N28 billion to electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to enable them procure and install meters under the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) tranche B scheme.

‘DisCos shall utilise NGN28,000,000,000 (Twenty-Eight Billion Naira only) of the MAF scheme for Tranche B apportioned in accordance with their respective contributions as at the July 2025 market settlement and detailed in Schedule 1, for the procurement and installation of meters for unmetered Band ‘A’ and ‘B’ customers within their franchise areas,’ NERC said.

The money is part of government’s intervention to assist the DisCos on meter procurement to ensure that electricity consumers pay only for the power they consume and reduce friction between the customers and the DisCos.

Not many Nigerians are comfortable with the idea of government still funding the DisCos. Afterall, they are now largely private entities and should be able to fend for themselves. But the fact also remains that the DisCos did not have the financial muscles to fund their operations.

From their body language and attitude, it is clear they are not in a hurry to meter consumers; a primary provision they ought to have factored into their operations before they became the owners of the entities. They seem comfortable with estimated billing through which they rip off hapless power consumers.

Perhaps nothing better supports the assertion that the DisCos are not interested in providing meters than the plan, as recently as last year, by Eko Electric to provide 355,000 meters to its customers over a five-year period. This means a paltry 71,000 meters per year. This is like a drop in the ocean by a DisCo serving a state where about 40 per cent of the power produced in the country, with its concomitantly huge metering gap, is consumed.

If Nigerians were to go at this pace, how many decades will it take for the metering gap to be bridged?

Against this backdrop, one can understand the predicament of the government and its reasons for making free meters available to the DisCos for onward transfer to power consumers, in many cases free of charge.

It is instructive that the Tinubu administration’s metering initiative is not the first. The immediate past Buhari administration also initiated a 1,000,000 free meters initiative in 2020.

One grievous error that that administration made was that the meters that were eventually rolled out were distributed simultaneously with the ones sold to customers by the DisCos. Your guess is as good as ours on what could have happened to the free meters, especially in a country like ours where corruption is rife, and the power sector acknowledged as a leader in monumental corrupt practices.

As things stand, we do not know whether there was thorough auditing of the previous exercises because, as at 2020, we were told the metering gap was estimated at 6.5 million. Today, we are told it is about seven million. So, what exactly is happening? The gap is supposed to be reducing as a result of previous meter rollouts.

It would seem the present government has taken some measures to address some of the past mistakes on distribution of meters. For instance, there are timelines for virtually every aspect of the new process; from the time funds are provided to the time the meters would get to the consumers.

In short, ‘The installation of meters shall be completed by 31 December 2025,’ according to the NERC.

But setting of deadlines has hardly been the problem. The problem is in getting the DisCos honour the timelines scrupulously. Any stakeholder that fails to perform to schedule should be sanctioned in line with the guidelines for the exercise.

More important, the processes should be thoroughly audited to ensure that we do not get to the situation where the more meters are made available to power consumers, the more we need to keep supplying. By now, the metering graph should be heading southwards. If it is not, we need to find out why, so we can know whether there is genuine reason for that or not, to enable government deal with the situation appropriately.

Candidates of political parties contesting the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State will, on November 3, sign a peace accord ahead of the poll.

The Executive Director of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and head of The Kukah Centre Secretariat, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, disclosed this yesterday during a pre-election engagement with stakeholders in Awka.

‘We’re here to work with those who understand the politics and cultural dynamics of this state, and to seek your advice on how to sustain peace in Anambra,’ Barkindo said.

‘Secondly, we’re informing you about the November 3 peace accord signing ahead of the poll. Members of the NPC will arrive in the state next week with INEC officials for the exercise, which has become a tradition.’

He added that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other candidates had been notified of the event. ‘For us, this is critical because it gives the Committee the moral authority to intervene in any untoward situation. We pray that nothing of such happens,’ Barkindo said.

‘This state will outlive all of us. In 50 years, a new generation of Anambra people will take our place. We have a natural responsibility to hand over a peaceful and decent state to those coming after us. That’s why we’re here.’

He urged candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the election period.

‘Our fears are normal-fear of the unforeseen. We’ll rely on the security agencies for intelligence. But we also advise candidates to behave in ways that reflect the values they claim to uphold,’ he said.

‘We expect the candidates, as leaders, to guide their supporters properly. They must comply with the law and cooperate with officials managing the election. Even voters must conduct themselves peacefully.

‘We’re also warning against posting fake results, misinformation, disinformation, and the sharing of fake images-all of which can provoke violence.’

Earlier, NPC Project Manager Asabe Ndahi said the engagement was aimed at promoting peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections in the state.

‘The meeting provides a platform for dialogue among political leaders, security agencies, civil society, and traditional institutions,’ Ndahi explained.

‘It’s also to build consensus on the 2025 Anambra Peace Accord to be signed before the polls, and to strengthen coordination among political actors, INEC, and security agencies to reduce election-related violence.

‘Additionally, we’re reviewing early warning signals through the state’s Independent State-Based Peace Architecture (ISPA) and the NPC’s Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) system.’

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu , has declared an ambitious vision to reposition the institute as the ‘engine room for producing champions.’

In an interview on M4STV, the former Edo State Deputy Governor of Edo State who is a long-time advocate for sports development, outlined a sweeping transformation agenda aimed at turning the NIS into a world class centre. He emphasized that the NIS must evolve beyond its current state and take a leadership role in shaping Nigeria’s sporting future.

‘The National Institute of Sports should not just exist, it should lead. We must treat sports as a serious business. The NIS must be the place where champions are made, not just for Nigeria, but for the world,’ he said.

He said under his leadership, the institute will prioritize the discovery and training of talented athletes, elevate coaching standards and foster strategic partnerships with the private sector.

Shaibu’s blueprint includes upgrading the institute’s facilities to meet international standards, making it a modern and attractive training ground for athletes and professionals alike.

He also plans to invest heavily in human capital by training more coaches, sports scientists, and administrators, while building strong relationships with private companies to support funding and innovation.

Shaibu did not shy away from acknowledging the challenges facing Nigerian sports, including poor infrastructure, inadequate funding and weak management systems.

He described the NIS he inherited as being ‘underground’ as a 50-year-old institution in dire need of renewal. He noted a troubling manpower imbalance, with more administrative staff than professionals, and revealed that only one staff member currently holds the requisite qualifications for their role.

‘The manpower gap is huge,’ he said, adding that the curriculum in use is out-dated, adding :’it’s a ‘Mungo Park’ curriculum in a modern era.’

To address these issues, Shaibu is committed to building a solid digital foundation for the institute, one that can compete globally and train coaches capable of preparing athletes for podium finishes.

He lamented that many Nigerian athletes abroad now return home to compete for the country because the local talent pool lacks exposure to quality coaching and modern facilities.

While the 2026 budget is one avenue of funding, Shaibu stressed that the institute cannot rely solely on government allocations. He described sports as an industry and positioned the NIS as a vital part of that industrial cycle, an institution responsible not only for training coaches and athletes but also for producing sports medicine professionals, physiotherapists, and paramedics.

The NIS currently offers a National Diploma in Paramedic Technology, which focuses on emergency medical care, trauma management and sports related health services.

Shaibu also highlighted the institute’s historical significance, recalling that in the 1980s, the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles) used to perfect their training at the NIS. He affirmed that one of the core mandates of the institute is to train elite athletes and restore its legacy as the cradle of Nigerian sports excellence.

‘We are rebranding the entire system so that the private sector can identify with the NIS and partner with us,’ Shaibu concluded.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has urged local and international investors to take advantage of the abundant opportunities in the nation’s capital to drive sustainable growth and development.

Wike spoke yesterday at the opening of the second Abuja Business and Investment Expo (ABIEXPO 2025) at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

The event was organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its investment arm, the Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL).

Represented by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to making Abuja not just the political capital of Nigeria but a model of sustainable economic growth in Africa.

Wike said: ‘As Abuja symbolises Nigeria’s aspirations, our mission, supported by Mr. President, is to make it a safe, investment-friendly city that empowers all citizens.’

The minister noted that the theme of the theme: Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potentials in Emerging Markets, reflected the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which focuses on inclusive development, infrastructure expansion, and job creation.

He said the administration was prioritising infrastructural development to link satellite towns, area councils, and rural communities to the city centre.

Wike noted that such projects are essential for industrialisation and economic diversification.

Wike hailed the AICL for organising what he called a ‘strategic and forward-looking platform’ that brings together investors, innovators, and development partners to explore opportunities for shared prosperity.

‘The FCT Administration remains steadfast in building a sustainable, flourishing capital city and enhancing Nigeria’s position on the continental and global stage,’ he added.

Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, urged African investors to prioritise local investments, stressing that the continent’s economic future must be shaped by Africans themselves.

Elumelu said: ‘Make your money, but please bring it home and invest locally.

‘It will be a disservice to make so much and then keep the money in economies that are already developed.’

The popular banker stressed that Africa’s economic transformation ‘will not be written in boardrooms in Washington D.C. or London but right here in Africa, in Nigeria, in Abuja – and it will be written by Africans’.

The Heirs Holding Chairman underscored the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector to tackle poverty, saying: ‘Poverty anywhere is a threat to all of us everywhere.’

He announced that the Tony Elumelu Foundation had supported 24,000 young Africans with training and a non-refundable $5,000 seed grant, including 641 beneficiaries from the FCT.

The Group Managing Director/CEO of AICL, Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, said the expo aligned with the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to boost investor confidence, stabilise the micro-economy and promote sustainable development.

She said this year’s edition attracted investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from within and outside Nigeria, including delegates from South Africa, the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Botswana.

‘ABIEXPO 2025 marks the next chapter of Abuja’s transformation into a resilient, globally competitive city,’ Tamuno said.

She added that the event featured a dedicated Youth Day and Women’s Day to promote inclusion and connect innovators with investors.

In a decisive move to boost national income generation, the National Economic Council (NEC) has expanded the mandate of its Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control to include ending the illegal mining and theft of solid minerals across the country.

The Council also endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposal for the overhaul and revamp of training institutions for security agencies nationwide.

NEC also approved a comprehensive roadmap toward achieving a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by 2030.

The decisions were part of the resolutions reached at the 152nd meeting of the Council held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, under the chairmanship of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, also attended the session, which was convened shortly after the swearing-in of Professor Joash Amupitan as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The President’s proposal followed a presentation to Council by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on the realisation of President Tinubu’s vision for a trillion-dollar economy, which also highlighted the necessity of investing more in security by the three tiers of government.

NEC constituted a committee chaired by Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah, to oversee the process of overhaul of training institutions for security agencies across the country.

The committee has a one-month period to produce a blueprint for the renovation of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies nationwide.

Addressing members of the Council, President Tinubu highlighted the need for government to fix training institutions and facilities for security agencies across the country, assuring that his administration would make concerted efforts to reverse the dilapidation in police training facilities nationwide.

‘We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees,’ he said.

Other members of the NEC committee are Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Kefas Agbu (Taraba); Uno Eno (Akwa Ibom); Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa with former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baba Usman, as secretary.

Tinubu also urged Governors to also pay attention to issues that affect the wellbeing of the people particularly from the grassroot.

Chairman of NEC, Vice President Kashim called on State Governments to translate the optimism of the streets into real prosperity in homes and communities.

Shettima reminded Governors that the measure of governance lies in the tangible improvement of citizens’ lives rather than rhetoric.

Briefing journalists at the State House after the meeting, Imo Governor and Chairman of the NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said the expansion of the committee’s terms of reference to include solid minerals was aimed at ending the menace of illegal mining and plugging revenue leakages.

‘NEC received our interim report with satisfaction and expanded our terms of reference to now also take interest in solid minerals, because our solid minerals are being mined and stolen without contributing to national revenue,’ Governor Uzodinma said.

He explained that the decision followed the committee’s success in curbing crude oil theft, which has seen Nigeria’s daily production rise significantly from around 700,000-800,000 barrels per day before May 2023 to over 1.7 million barrels per day as of October 2025.

Uzodinma credited this progress to the committee’s collaborative approach involving regulators, industry operators, and security agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and security consultants, as well as Governors of oil-producing states.

The management of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has launched a probe into an allegations of a staff using personal bank account to receive payment from customers for services.

It frowned at such practices, stating ‘if verified, are contrary to the established financial and ethical procedures governing transactions within LASAA and the Lagos State Civil Service.’

It said the agency has identified the staff involved who has been directed to ‘report at the Agency’s Head Office for immediate investigation and disciplinary proceedings in accordance with public service rules.’

The agency maintained ‘all payments for its services must be made only through officially designated government channels.

‘We appreciate the vigilance of members of the public who bring such matters to our attention. The Agency assures all stakeholders and clients that necessary corrective measures will be taken to uphold public trust and the integrity of our processes.’

Detained self acclaimed leader of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has fired all members of his legal team.

Kanu, who announced the decision on Thursday, told the court that he was willing and ready to now conduct his case by himself.

At the resumed hearing in his Kanu’s terrorism trial on Thursday before a Federal High Court in Abuja, the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) announced his team for the prosecution.

When it was time for the defendant’s legal team to announce appearance, the leader of the team, Kanu Agabi (SAN) stood up and told the court they were only in court out of the respect for the court.

Kanu said they were in court to formally announce their withdrawal from further participating in the trial.

Agabi explained that the reason for their decision’is because the defendant has taken this case back from us and we respect that.’

He gave the names of the other SANs, who are also withdrawing to include: Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Joseph Akubo (SAN), Paul Erokoro (SAN), Emeka Etiaba (SAN) and one other.

Following Agabi’s announcement, Justice James Omotosho turned to Kanu, who was in the dock, for his response.

Kanu confirmed sacking all his lawyers and told the court that he was willing and ready to conduct his case by himself.

Justice Omotosho then, ordered other members of the defendant’s legal team, who were in court, except the SANs, to vacate the courtroom immediately, a directive they promptly complied with.

The judge then, turned to the defendant and asked him to open his case.

In response, Kanu commenced by indicating his intention to make an oral submission, an indulgence the judge granted him despite opposition from Awomolo.

He said he would not open his defence as ordered by the court, because he was questioning the jurisdiction of the court to try him, adding: ‘This is a jurisdictional issue that goes to the heart of this case.’

He hinged his objection to the court’s jurisdiction on four grounds, the first being his claim that the Federal Government, through the prosecution, was ik contempt of a Court of Appeal judgment, which he said ordered his acquittal.

Kanu argued that for the court to grant the prosecution audience, it (the prosecution) must first, comply with the said Court of Appeal judgment.

He said the second ground was that the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 and

and Customs and Excise Act, under which the charge against him was brought, are repealed laws.

On the third ground, he claimed to have been denied fair hearing. He said his continued detention in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) has denied him the opportunity for adequate consultation with his lawyers to enable him prepare for his defence.

He hinged the fourth ground on his claim that the medical report submitted to the court by a medical team empanelled by the president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which certified him fit to stand trial, was forged.

Kanu denied being examined by any medical team and that his blood and urine samples were never obtained for analyses.

He urged the court to declare the proceedings void and order his immediate release in line with the Court of Appeal judgment.

Reacting, Awomolo said Kanu deserved no formal response from the prosecution because all the allegations he made ought to be put down in the form of a sworn affidavit and effectively demonstrated to enable the other party respond appropriately.

Awomolo faulted Kanu’s claim that a Court of Appeal’s decision acquitted him, arguing that the said judgment was set aside by the Supreme Court in a judgment delivered on December 15, 2023.

He said: ‘The judgments of the Supreme Court that was given on December 15 2023 has set aside the judgment they are claiming discharged him.

‘If he has a preliminary objection he should file it and demonstrate all his claims,’ Awomolo said.

The prosecuting lawyer also faulted Kanu’s claim that his right to fair hearing has been breached.

Awomolo argued that Kanu’s claim that the medical report was forged was an indictment on the senior lawyers, who were in his Legal team, who saw the report and found no fault in it.

He prayed the judge to determine all the issues that Kanu raised in his Thursday’s submission when delivering the final judgment.

In his intervention, Justice Omotosho noted that when the medical report was bought up in court on October 16, he sought the views of lawyers to both parties, who did not raise any objection to the report.

The judge said since the report has been admitted by the court, acted on same and made decisions based on it, the court could no longer go back on it.

He said all the decision taken by the court, based on the medical report, stand.

The judge noted that all the issues raised by Kanu in his Thursday’s submission were substantially raised in the no-case submission which the court overruled in a ruling delivered on September 26.

The judge said: ‘On the 26th of September 2015 I considered those issues and held that he has a case to answer. This was to enable him exercise his right to fair hearing to make his case.’

Justice Omotosho recalled that in the spirit of fair hearing, he vacated this courtroom on Wednesday from 9am to 2pm to enable Kanu and his lawyers have a private consultation session, despite the absence of evidence to support his claim that his conversation was being secretly recorded by the DSS’s whose custody he is being detained.

The judge said although all the issues raised by Kanu in his Thursday’s submission had previously been determined by the court, the defendant is not foreclosed, he can still raise them at the final written address.

He then proceeded to call on Kanu to open his defence and overruled him when the defendant attempted to insist on his objection to the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Omotosho said:

I call upon and appeal to the defendant to open his defence.

I beg the defendant, in the name of the Almighty God, to comport himself and conduct his defence.

‘This is the opportunity that the Constitution gives him under Section 36. It is a right that he can exercise or waive either expressly or by conduct.

‘I beg and I appeal to the defendant to make use of the opportunity, given him by the Constitution, to put in his defence, except he choses to waive it either expressly or by conduct,’ the judge said.

At that point, Ikpeazu intervened and drew the attention of the court to the fact that their (Kanu’s lawyers’) withdrawal took effect on the morning of Thursday.

He prayed the court to grant Kanu few time to gather his thoughts and compose himself for the task ahead.

Taking a hint from what Ikpeazu said, Kanu said: ‘In the exercise of my right, I wish to state on record that I have not had the opportunity to prepare for my defence.

‘I only had three hours yesterday in this courtroom. Section 36 of the Constitution allows me to be given adequate facilities to defend myself. My lord, I need time,’ he said.

Prosecuting lawyer did not object, following which Justice Omotosho adjourned till Friday, October 24 for Kanu to open his defence.

He said the opportunity given the defendant to conduct his defence began to run from Thursday.

The judge disclosed that he has signed the witness summons requested for by Kanu and that they are available for him to collect and serve on the said witnesses as required.

Kanu, in a notice to defend, filed on October 21, listed the names of prominent Nigerians, including former and serving governors, ministers, military and security chiefs as his intended witnesses, who he said should be compelled to attend court.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday deplored the poor state of emergency response in Nigeria.

He said veteran activist, Comrade Fidelista Abiodun Aremu, who was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver with only one functioning headlight, would have lived with a better response system.

Aremu was the National Secretary of the Joint Action Front (JAF).

Falana spoke during a Day of Tribute organised in honour of Aremu, who died on October 12 in Lagos.

He noted that the deceased was hit at night by a car that was mistaken for a motorcycle due to its single headlight, adding that he was confirmed dead shortly after getting to the hospital.

Falana condemned ‘systemic failure’ and lack of emergency response capacity in the country.

He vowed that the hit-and-run driver would be apprehended and prosecuted.

‘Our system is so broken that when someone is hit by a car, the first response is to demand a police report instead of saving a life. Drivers often flee for fear of mob justice. This is a failure of governance,’ he said.

The human rights lawyer said the police began investigations into the incident after activists wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police.

While paying tribute to Aremu, Falana described him as a selfless comrade who dedicated his life to the struggle for social justice and equality.

‘Like Mandela, the struggle was his life and he dedicated his entire life to it,’ he said.

He recounted how the deceased remained committed to the movement even after suffering a stroke, calling to discuss the struggle just three days before his death.

President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Chris Piwuna, described the deceased as a man of courage and conviction.

Piwuna recalled their last conversation.

‘Just two weeks before we declared an ultimatum to embark on action against this government and its policies, he called me out of the blue. I hadn’t heard from him in a long while.

‘He asked what plans we had, and I told him we were about to declare a strike.

‘He said to me, ‘Chris, any time you decide to take an action, just give me a call. I will be ready.’ That was about six weeks ago, not knowing it would be the last time we would speak.’

The ASUU Chief noted that Aremu had stood firmly with ASUU throughout its struggles over the years, recalling how he once offered to travel to Turkey to bring back union trustee, Dipo Fashina, when he was stranded.

He assured the late activist’s family that the union would continue to honour his memory and support initiatives that promote his legacy.

President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Debo Adeniran, described the late activist as a pillar of Nigeria’s civil society movement.

He said there is hardly any organisation that stands today without his contributions.

Adeniran stated that Aremu worked relentlessly to bridge ideological divides within the movement, fostering unity between comrades of different leanings.

‘There’s hardly any civil society organisation surviving in this country without the hand of Aremson in it. He is the epitome of tolerance. He never saw himself as superior to others because of his clarity of ideology,’ he added.

Other activists described Aremu as a man who rejected personal wealth to fight for a just and egalitarian society.

Former Nigerian international footballer Victor Ezeji has spoken for the first time about allegations that he defrauded some individuals in Port Harcourt, which led to his invitation by the Rivers State Police Command and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.

Ezeji, a former striker for Sharks, Dolphins, Enyimba and Heartland, said the matter stemmed from a business misunderstanding involving his company but not for any fraudulent act.

‘First and foremost, I am not a criminal and have never been involved in any crime all my life – and I never will be,’ he said. ‘I used my God-given talent to make a name and living for myself and my family. For 20 years, I followed my passion for football, served my country and worked hard to be a good citizen.’

The ex-footballer explained that after retiring from the game, he ventured into the oil and gas business, where his wife also serves as a director.

‘On this occasion, sometime in June while I was away, she transacted business with a couple of persons. She lifted diesel of about 60,000 litres from the depot and supplied it to two service stations and a hotel,’ he said.

According to him, the unpredictable nature of the business environment and logistic issues around payment may have caused the misunderstanding that led to the dispute.

‘At that point, perhaps my wife, who handled the transaction, was under severe pressure to settle the payment. I also guess she couldn’t withstand those involved. As I speak, I haven’t seen her since the matter was reported to the police,’ he added.

Ezeji said he was invited by the police as the owner of the company and honoured the invitation.

‘I reported to the police, who called the complainant, and we began discussions to resolve the matter. That was ongoing when reports of my alleged arrest surfaced,’ he explained.

‘A few days later, the EFCC invited me to its Lagos office after another petition was submitted. I travelled to Lagos, and by the grace of God, we are now on the verge of settling the issue.’

Ezeji maintained that it was purely a business issue and not a criminal act.

‘I am not blaming those involved for taking the matter to the police and EFCC. They are businesspeople trying to recover their money. I hold nothing against them,’ he said. ‘But I must say clearly, I am not a criminal and will never be. I didn’t defraud anyone.’

He further urged the public not to judge him based on the earlier reports.

‘Members of the public, my friends, colleagues, and partners shouldn’t see me in the light portrayed by that earlier report,’ he said. ‘It is unfortunate that I was not contacted for my side of the story before such a damaging report was published. I am a law-abiding Nigerian and will remain so.’