Badminton: Nigeria suffer setback at Lagos classics

Nigeria suffered a disappointing start at the ninth Lagos International Badminton Classic, with seven players eliminated from the women’s singles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament is taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nigeria Institute of Sports, Lagos.

The competition, which began on Wednesday, is scheduled to end on Saturday at the National Stadium, Surulere.

Nigeria’s number-one ranked player, Ruth Ebere, opened proceedings but lost 21-15, 21-10 to India’s Surya Tamiri.

Tamiri won the women’s singles title at the 87th edition of the competition in Vijayawada, India.

Tolulope Oluwadamilola also exited after losing 21-6, 21-4 to Czech Republic’s third seed, Petra Maixnerovau.

Kadijat Emiola suffered a 21-8, 21-11 defeat against eighth-seeded Czech Republic player Van Coppenolle.

Ifeoluwa Ojo was beaten 21-5, 21-10 by fourth seed Prakriti Bharath, while Precious Oluwagbotemi lost 21-6, 21-4 to India’s M. Mareddy.

Peace Jonah also departed after Saudi Arabia’s Khadijah Kawthar defeated her 21-6, 21-10 in their Round-of-32 encounter.

Nigeria’s Naomi Tanko completed the difficult day for the hosts, losing 21-10, 21-10 to second seed Disha Gupta.

Ebere said the gulf between Nigerian players and established international competitors remained difficult to bridge.

‘The game has been encouraging, probably with the fact that there have been so many tense and tough moments,’ she said (NAN).

Fed govt installs 668,000 meters

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to eliminate estimated electricity billing across the country, with 668,000 meters already installed under the first phase of the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP).

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP), which disclosed this on Wednesday, said roughly 60 per cent of active electricity customers in Nigeria have now been metered.

The Council said the ongoing rollout, alongside initiatives such as the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), is effectiveness of the targeted at ending estimated billing for registered electricity customers nationwide.

The disclosure was part of updates presented at the NCP’s second meeting for 2026, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja.

Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said significant progress had been recorded under Phase 1 of the $500 million World Bank-financed DISREP.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Gbeleyi said 668,000 of the 1.033 million meters delivered under the programme have so far been deployed and installed at customers’ premises.

‘On various issues, we provided updates on meter deployment under Phase 1 of the World Bank-financed Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. We have implemented 60 percent of the meters that have been delivered in the country out of 1,033,000.’

So far, we have deployed and installed 668,000 meters on customers’ premises’, Gbeleyi said.

The BPE chief also disclosed that the NCP reviewed the implementation of the Electricity Act, particularly the transition of electricity regulation from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to State Electricity Regulatory Commissions.

He said about 17 states had established their own electricity regulatory commissions since April 2024, with Akwa Ibom State becoming one of the latest after creating its commission in July.

Gbeleyi, however, said experience from the implementation of the Act had shown that some provisions required further refinement to ensure a smooth regulatory transition and clarify responsibilities between federal and state authorities.

‘Some fine-tuning is required here and there in the implementation of that Act’, he said.

According to him, the NCP consequently directed relevant stakeholders to work together to harmonise the Federal Government’s position on amendments required to strengthen the Electricity Act.

‘Council has directed that stakeholders, led by the Attorney General of the Federation, the Honourable Minister of Power, the Special Adviser on Power, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the BPE and all other critical stakeholders, should engage constructively so as to streamline and harmonise the Federal Government’s position in terms of the required amendments to fine-tune the Electricity Act, and we are engaging in that regard’, he stated.

Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, said the Council was working collaboratively to ensure that Nigerians derived tangible benefits from reforms and investments in electricity and other critical sectors.

‘We are working concertedly and in a very collaborative manner to ensure that we give value, either in electricity or in telecoms, whichever area, to make sure that Nigerians benefit from this government’, Tegbe said.

He said the meeting was attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, who serves as Vice Chairman of the NCP; the Minister of Power; the Attorney-General of the Federation, represented by the Solicitor-General; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; as well as private-sector members of the Council.

The NCP is the Federal Government’s apex body responsible for formulating and approving policies on the privatisation and commercialisation of public enterprises, with the BPE serving as its secretariat.

Kano health board moves to strengthen coordination of health programmes

The Director-General of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KSPHCMB), Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, has stressed the need for stronger coordination among stakeholders to improve the implementation of health programmes across the state.

Professor Ibrahim said effective coordination would provide a more focused operational structure for the execution of health interventions while promoting accountability, data-driven decision-making and collaboration among stakeholders.

He made the remarks as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), concluded a two-day workshop to strengthen the Kano State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

The workshop, held from August 26 to 27, 2026, at the Kano EOC, focused on improving the structure, capacity and effectiveness of the centre in coordinating priority health interventions across the state.

The statement was signed by Sa’adatu Suleiman, Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board.

The National Incident Manager, Dr Audu Musa Idowu, who participated virtually, contributed to discussions on the strategic deployment of resources to critical roles and ways of strengthening the capacity of EOC teams to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

The engagement also focused on improving the systems and structures supporting the Kano EOC, with particular emphasis on accountability, collaboration, human capacity and effective coordination.

According to the organisers, the workshop represented a strategic effort to support Kano State in developing a stronger, more responsive and better-coordinated emergency operations system capable of delivering priority health interventions more effectively.

Professor Ibrahim said the initiative would help create a more efficient operational framework for the implementation and coordination of health programmes, ultimately improving the state’s response to public health priorities.

The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening the capacity of the Kano EOC to coordinate health interventions and respond efficiently to emerging public health needs across the state.

P&ID case would have crippled Nigeria’s economy – Fagbemi

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the controversial Process and Industrial Developments (P and ID) arbitration case could have crippled Nigeria’s economy.

Fagbemi stated this on Thursday at the Chief Legal Advisors Forum (CLAF) 2026 in Singapore, according to a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, the minister’s spokesperson.

At the forum, the minister called for reforms to Nigeria’s arbitration framework to better protect national sovereignty and taxpayers.

He said Nigeria was advocating reforms that would strengthen domestic courts rather than bypass them in resolving disputes between investors and states.

The minister said Nigeria’s experience in the P and ID case had reinforced its position on the need for greater clarity in the calculation of damages awarded in international arbitration.

‘States consistently express concern about the opacity of arbitral proceedings and the unpredictability of awards,’ he said.

Fagbemi said Nigeria supported greater transparency in proceedings, consistency in arbitral reasoning and predictability of outcomes, describing the measures as important for both investor confidence and state trust.

He recalled that in the P and ID case, damages were calculated using compound interest, which he said could have had a ‘crippling effect’ running into billions of dollars.

Fagbemi said the experience informed Nigeria’s efforts to reform its arbitration framework, including the reform of its Arbitration Act to strengthen transparency.

He also disclosed that, upon assuming office, he constituted a committee of experts to review Nigeria’s bilateral investment treaties and commitments under multilateral treaties and conventions.

The minister said the review was aimed at promoting and protecting investments while addressing existing challenges in the country’s investment framework.

He said reforms to investor-state dispute settlement were necessary to address what he described as structural imbalances in the international investment regime.

‘Many states, Nigeria included, believe that incremental adjustments will not address the structural imbalances embedded in the current system,’ he said.

Fagbemi further called for stronger national judicial institutions, saying they were central to building long-term rule-of-law capacity and reducing excessive reliance on external arbitration.

He also urged that public interest considerations, including environmental protection, human rights, community welfare and sustainable development, should be reflected in investment dispute mechanisms.

‘Nigeria strongly supports reforms that ensure investment protections do not undermine legitimate public-interest regulation,’ he said.

The minister said Nigeria’s 2016 Model Bilateral Investment Treaty, which is currently under review, reflected the country’s position on balancing investor protection with legitimate public-interest regulation.

Beauty in the Motherland 2026 returns to Lagos in October

Beauty in the Motherland (BITML) is set to return to Lagos for the 2026 edition.

The 2026 edition is scheduled to run from October 5, 2026 to October 7, 2026 at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, for three days of exhibition, networking, learning and business opportunities.

Positioned as Africa’s leading beauty exhibition, BITML was created to celebrate and advance Africa’s beauty, natural and creative resources while expanding market access across the continent.

The platform is driven by a Vision 2030 ambition: to help the African beauty industry attain a $100 billion valuation and position Africa as a global hub for beauty innovation, brands, talent, manufacturing and investment.

The vision is championed by Founder Beatrice Eneh, a global beauty entrepreneur and African beauty market strategist and Co-founder Linda Edozien, founder and MD/CEO of Barazahi spa, has extensive corporate experience including as a pioneer executive at AMNI International Petroleum. Together, the fashion and beauty experts are building a platform to make African beauty businesses more visible, structured, investment-ready and globally competitive.

The 2026 edition will bring together 300 plus leading brands, over 400 exhibitors, 10,000 beauty professionals, 60 speakers, 20 partners and participants from other countries.

The event is produced in partnership with Fidelity Bank, Unilever, and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) – a collaboration aimed at bringing finance, industry expertise and enterprise development to help beauty businesses grow and scale.

A major highlight is the BITML Business Pitch Competition with EDC. Selected beauty businesses receive training, mentorship and pitch to judges on the final day for cash prizes and development support.

The Nail Art Competition, sponsored by Nectar Beauty Hub, will also return. Winners get up to N1 million worth of nail products plus exposure and training opportunities.

The conference will feature thought leaders discussing international brand growth, digital influence, funding, sustainability, quality, and the future of African beauty.

Sahara Power begins construction of $12m 12MW Lagos IPP

Sahara Power Enterprise Group (SPEG) has commenced construction of a $12 million Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Ogba, Lagos, in a move aimed at improving electricity supply to businesses, industries, residential communities and public institutions within the area.

The 12MW gas-fired power plant, being developed at the Ogba Undertaking of Ikeja Electric Plc, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

The project will comprise six generating units, each with a capacity of 2MW, and is designed to provide a more reliable and cost-effective electricity supply to customers across Ogba, Acme Road, Wemco Road and surrounding communities.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Enterprise Group, Kola Adesina, said the investment reflected the company’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s electricity challenges through practical infrastructure development.

Adesina said the project was not merely about constructing another power plant but represented a broader commitment to strengthening the country’s energy future.

‘This initiative is about much more than breaking ground for a new power plant. It represents a bold commitment to Nigeria’s energy future and our determination to deliver dependable, efficient, and sustainable electricity to businesses and communities. Improving the availability and reliability of power will enhance productivity, growth, and value creation,’ he said.

According to him, the plant would deploy modern gas-powered generating technology designed to meet established environmental, operational and safety standards.

He commended the Federal Government, Lagos State Government, Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), Ikeja Electric, Cummins and other stakeholders for their support towards the realisation of the project.

The investment comes amid continuing efforts to improve electricity supply in Nigeria through a combination of grid expansion, embedded generation and private-sector investment in power infrastructure.

The Ogba IPP is expected to provide dedicated additional generation capacity within the Ikeja Electric network, potentially reducing the pressure on existing electricity supply sources while supporting economic activities in one of Lagos’s important commercial and industrial corridors.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electric Plc, Ogochukwu Onyelucheya, described the project as an important step towards improving the quality, reliability and sustainability of electricity supply to customers.

She said the IPP represented a strategic investment that would provide a dependable and cost-effective source of electricity while supporting business expansion and economic development within the designated areas.

‘At Ikeja Electric, our priority is to partner with forward-looking investors and developers such as SPEG to deliver innovative solutions that improve customer experience and reliable electricity supply across our network. SPEG’s investment in this IPP demonstrates the value of strategic collaboration in creating sustainable energy solutions for our customers,’ Onyelucheya said.

The project is also expected to have wider economic benefits for the Ogba community and its environs, particularly through improved operating conditions for businesses that depend heavily on electricity to sustain production and services.

Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa, said improved electricity supply would help create an enabling environment for businesses, attract new investments and generate employment opportunities within the community.

He said reliable power remained an important requirement for local economic development, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that often bear the high cost of alternative electricity sources.

Construction of the plant is being undertaken by Cummins West Africa Limited, which is responsible for deploying the generating technology for the project.

Managing Director of Cummins West Africa Limited, Mark Oni-Okeke, said the company was pleased to partner with Sahara Power on the project, stressing the importance of reliable and sustainable electricity to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

He said the partnership demonstrated the role of technology and private-sector investment in addressing the country’s energy infrastructure needs.

The traditional ruler of Ogbaland, HRM Oba Egbeyemi Latif Oladimeji, expressed appreciation to Sahara Power for locating the project within the community and pledged the support of the palace and residents.

‘You have the support of the Palace and good people of Ogba and its environs. We are eagerly looking forward to the commissioning of the Plant and the positive impact on our community,’ he said.

The project is expected to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2027, after which the six 2MW gas-fired units will contribute a combined 12MW of additional generation capacity to serve the designated areas.

The Ogba IPP forms part of Sahara Power Enterprise Group’s wider strategy to deploy innovative solutions across Nigeria’s electricity value chain.

The group said the investment was also intended to strengthen energy infrastructure and contribute to narrowing the country’s power supply gap.

AGILE graduates 1,868 girls, women from alternative education programme in Zamfara

Zamfara State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), has graduated 1,868 girls and young women from an Alternative and Mass Education programme in the state.

Speaking during the presentation of certificates to the graduates in Gusau, AGILE project coordinator in the state, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu Gusau, said the occasion was about more than certificates, describing it as a celebration of the power of opportunity.

‘It gives me pleasure to welcome you all to this memorable occasion, the graduation and certification of the first cohort of 2,250 adolescent girls and young women under the AGILE Alternative Education Subcomponent 2.2C in the state,’ she said.

‘The results are encouraging. Of the 2,250 learners enrolled, 1,868 have completed the programme and are graduating today.

‘In addition, 1,186 have transitioned to post-literacy programmes, 682 have been mainstreamed into formal schools, 367 are repeating the learning cycle, while 15 have dropped out. These are not merely statistics; they represent renewed opportunities and new pathways for girls and young women.

‘In the 14 local government areas, the first cohort completed a 10-month programme covering foundational literacy and numeracy, life skills, digital literacy, and vocational and livelihood skills in market-driven trades.

‘As we celebrate this milestone, we must also look ahead. We call for continued partnership and collaboration to sustain, strengthen and scale up Alternative Education in the state.’

Also, the Executive Secretary of the Zamfara Mass Education Board, Zuwaira Abdu Gusau, revealed that an additional 80 vocational centres had been mapped for similar interventions, bringing the planned coverage to 100 centres.

‘These 80 vocational centres that were mapped will also be equipped with learning and livelihood resources to target 19,500 beneficiaries in the state,’ she said.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abdulmalik Garba Gajam, represented by the permanent secretary, Hajiya Maryam Shantali, lauded the efforts of Governor Dauda Lawal for his commitment to the education sector.

She also commended the Mass Education Board and the AGILE Project Implementation Unit for their unwavering commitment to the successful implementation of the programme in the state.

Why Nigerian youths must organise

Out of Nigeria’s roughly 250 million people, more than 50 million are young people aged 16-35. This demographic fact is obvious, yet its implications remain insufficiently grasped-not only by policymakers, but by democracy itself.

Nigerian democracy now stands at crossroads. On one side are the political actors who systematically extract from the system for private gain; on the other is the steadily eroding trust of citizens in the institutions meant to serve them. Free and fair elections have become as unreliable as the national power supply-intermittent at best, absent at worst. In one state, a governor publicly praises INEC; in the neighbouring state the same institution is denounced. The inconsistency is no longer surprising; it is structural.

It is against this backdrop that we approach the 2027 general elections. My particular concern with the youth is not abstract: I am one of them, and we constitute the single largest bloc of the population. Yet sheer numbers do not automatically translate into power. The Pareto principle still holds: although young people form the majority, only a committed minority among us will drive meaningful change on the issues that most affect our generation.

Nigerian youth are entering another election cycle inside a political system deliberately structured to reward sycophancy over accountability. Beyond any single election, democracy itself remains under threat for as long as the integrity of the voters stays in doubt. How can a democracy endure-let alone thrive-when citizens lose the practical ability to decide who governs them?

How did we arrive here? The answer is as painful as it is multi-layered. Governance has been reduced to a competition to empty the public treasury. That treasury is funded by taxpayers and is meant to finance the infrastructure and services that improve ordinary lives. The predictable result is that more than half the country now lives in extreme poverty, including an entire generation of young people who feel they have nothing left to lose except their marginalisation and their poverty. A generation with almost no stake in the society they inhabit is a dangerous political reality.

Yet political apathy is not the answer. Young people must move from the sidelines onto the field-active participants rather than passive spectators. First, we must reaffirm our belief in democratic processes. This election cycle should command our attention and our planning. We must be prepared to rewrite the script; otherwise we cannot confront a political class that is corrupt, self-serving and skilled at manipulation. Until we confront what stands before us with conviction and sustained effort, electoral outcomes will continue to reflect the interests of the powerful rather than the choices of the people.

We should refuse to remain permanent victims of an imperfect democracy. Those among us who are educated and organised carry a particular responsibility to reach those who are not. A significant number of young Nigerians never attended school, dropped out early, or could not afford to continue. The out-of-school crisis is not confined to children; many young adults are also effectively unschooled. The roughly 20 per cent of us with the resources, networks and education to act must treat this as a collective task. The issues are too urgent for half-measures, laziness or aloofness.

The task before us requires all hands-on deck. Our economic circumstances should not make our political voices less important. If anything, those who bear the greatest burden of bad governance have the greatest stake in changing it.

Election Day should not simply be another day of political theatre. It should be a day when Nigerian youths exercise the power that democracy gives them: the power to choose who will govern them.

The 2027 election is a golden opportunity for young Nigerians to look beyond political class and elites and ask harder. As Dr Usman Bugaje has put it, ‘2027 is a chance for the youths to take back their country’. We must come back to our senses and stop imitating the worst habits of the current political class and begin the harder work of replacing them. We must refuse to be manipulated.

The script can be changed-not through violence, thuggery or disorder, but through the quiet, decisive power of our votes. We have no reason to be afraid. With our numbers, they already know: we can.

Ex-governorship candidate Jegede dumps PDP

The erstwhile governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, has resigned his membership of the party.

Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), conveyed his resignation in a letter dated August 7, 2026.

A copy of the letter, obtained by The Nation, was addressed to the Chairman of Ward 11, Owode/Imagun Ward, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr Fabiyi Kole Adewale.

In the letter titled: ‘Resignation’, Jegede said his decision to quit the PDP was effective immediately.

‘Kindly take this as a formal notice of my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, effective immediately,’ he wrote.

Jegede, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice under ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko, was the PDP’s governorship candidate in the 2016 and 2020 elections, where he challenged the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He lost the two election exercise to the late Governor Akeredolu.

Confirming his resignation, Jegede said his next political movement would soon be announced.

‘Yes, I can confirm my resignation from the PDP. I will also let you know my next political movement,’ he told our reporter.

Jegede’s resignation from the opposition PDP comes some months after his core loyalists quit the PDP and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The loyalists were led by Balarabe Abiodun Akinwunmi, a known associate of Jegede, who is aligning with the Atiku Abubakar led coalition-backed ADC.

Akinwumi is now candidate of the ADC for the Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.

Sources revealed that Jegede would soon announce his official defection to ADC in his bid to contest the 2028 governorship election in Ondo State.

The development is coming amid the ongoing political alignment of opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 general election.

The ADC has been attracting prominent politicians and former members of opposition parties as part of efforts to build a stronger political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Jegede’s move is expected to further reshape the political landscape of Ondo State, particularly within the opposition camp ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid continuing concerns over the crisis and weakening structure of the PDP in the state, with some of its members and supporters already moving towards the ADC.

Awujale: Ijebu-Ode High Chief slams N10bn suit against 11 Fusengbuwa ruling house members

The Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode, Professor Fassy Adetokunbo Yusuf, has filed a N10bn defamation suit against 11 family members before an Ogun State High Court in Ijebu-Ode.

Yusuf, in the suit marked HC3/153/9 and dated August 21, 2026, obtained by Tribune Online, is seeking an order compelling the defendants to retract the alleged defamatory statements and tender an ‘unreserved apology’ to him in The Nigerian Tribune and The Punch newspapers, as well as on other social media platforms where the report was published.

The Ijebu-Ode High Chief challenged allegations of financial inducement and bribery against him in a purported report of the Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee on the selection process for the Awujale of Ijebuland.

The Associate Professor also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from further publishing, reproducing, circulating or disseminating the alleged defamatory statements.

The claimant asked for N5m as the cost of the action and also demanded that interest on the judgment sum be fixed at 21 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until final liquidation.

The 11 defendants are Pa Olusegun Olusoga; Mr Ridwan Oduneye; Muyiwa Adeleye; Alhaji Taiwo Ajumo; Mr Sikiru Adegunwa; Hon. Kehinde Lawal; Mr Logunleko Oludare; Prince Abdul Onalaja; Mr Ashiru Mufutau; Prince (Barr.) Osiyemi Johnson; and Prince Adeleke Adeyemi.

In his statement of claim accompanying the writ of summons, Yusuf said the defendants were involved in a body described as the ‘Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee’, which purportedly investigated matters concerning the leadership and affairs of the ruling house.

He added that the purported committee was not constituted in accordance with the rules, customs and established procedures governing the affairs of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

Yusuf averred that ‘on or about 9th August 2026, the Defendants caused, authorised, adopted, endorsed and/or participated in the publication and circulation of a document titled: ‘REPORT OF THE FUSENGBUWA FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Report’). The Defendants are hereby put on notice to produce a copy of the said report at the trial.’

He alleged that statements published by the defendants concerning him included claims that ‘there was a manifest breakdown of unity, communication and cohesion among the Claimant and the other persons described as Olori-Ebi;

‘That he and the other persons had been involved in a process characterised by financial inducement, manipulation, irregularities and lack of due process;

‘That he had a preferred candidate in the Awujale selection process and that his position in the process was therefore compromised, among others’.

He, therefore, prayed the court for several declarations, including that the statements and allegations concerning him in the report dated August 9, 2026, particularly those alleging or imputing financial inducement, bribery, document manipulation, irregularities, neglect of duty and conduct warranting removal from office, are false, defamatory and injurious to his reputation.

He is also seeking a declaration that the publication and circulation of the alleged statements constitute actionable defamation.

The claimant is further asking the court to declare that the purported Fusengbuwa Fact-Finding Committee was unlawfully or improperly constituted and lacked lawful authority or mandate to investigate or make binding findings concerning him.

He wants the purported report declared ‘invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever’, as well as any decision, resolution, recommendation or act purportedly undertaken pursuant to the report.

Yusuf is also seeking ‘an order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendants to remove, delete and/or procure the removal of the defamatory publication and all reproductions thereof from websites, social media pages, print media and other digital platforms where the defamatory statements appeared.

‘An order of this Honourable Court compelling the Defendants to publish a full, unequivocal and unconditional retraction and an unreserved apology in: The Punch Newspaper, Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, and

‘All social media and print media platforms where the defamatory statements were published with prominence reasonably commensurate with the original publication.

‘An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, their agents, privies, servants or otherwise howsoever, from further publishing, reproducing, circulating or disseminating the defamatory statements complained of herein or any words to the same or substantially similar effect concerning the Claimant.’

He is demanding N10bn in general damages for alleged defamation, reputational harm, emotional distress and loss of goodwill.

He is also seeking aggravated and/or exemplary damages ‘having regard to the reckless, malicious and persistent nature of the publication and its subsequent circulation’.

The claimant further put the cost of the action at N5m and asked for interest on the judgment sum at 21 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until final liquidation.