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The recent resignation of Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, over alleged falsification of academic credentials, has once again brought the issue into public discourse.

Tribune Online reports that Nnaji tendered his resignation on Tuesday following controversies over his academic records and allegations of certificate forgery.

However, it is worth noting that Nnaji is not the first Nigerian public figure to be caught up in certificate-related scandals. Over the years, notable high-profile political figures have faced similar accusations.

While some resigned, some were cleared by the courts, and others’ allegations simply faded away with time.

1. Kemi Adeosun

In 2018, a former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, resigned from her position after it emerged that her NYSC exemption certificate was allegedly forged.

Although Adeosun, who was appointed by late former President Muhammadu Buhari, maintained that she had believed the document was genuine, but public pressure forced her resignation.

2. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was accused of submitting a forged WAEC certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in January 2023, dismissed the certificate forgery case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against him.

Inyang Ekwo, the judge, ruled that the suit was an abuse of the court process.

‘Once a court is satisfied with the proceedings before it that they amount to abuse of process, the court has the right, in fact, duty to invoke its coercive powers to punish the party which is in abuse of its process.’

‘Such power is often exercisable by a dismissal of the action which constituted the abuse. I, therefore, make an order dismissing this case for being an abuse of process of court,’ the judge said.

3. Peter Mbah

The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, was accused of submitting a forged NYSC discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the 2023 elections.

However, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the forgery claim and held that the certificate was genuine.

The court found that evidence presented showed that although Mbah was mobilised for service in 2001, he actually completed it in 2003.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo in the N20 billion lawsuit filed by the governor against the NYSC, the court ruled that Mbah’s discharge certificate was indeed issued by the agency, noting that the NYSC had ‘conspired by fraudulent design, suppressed and misrepresented facts’ in its disclaimer.

Justice Ekwo awarded N5 million in damages against the defendants.

The court further stated that Mbah, midway through his service, obtained permission from the NYSC to attend the Nigerian Law School and was later reinstated into the scheme in 2003.

4. Godwin Obaseki

Immediate past Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, also faced allegations that the degree certificate he submitted to INEC was forged.

However, the Supreme Court in May 2023 dismissed the certificate forgery case brought against Obaseki by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In its ruling, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the case lacked merit and imposed a punitive fine of ?1 million on the APC and its co-appellant.

The suit, filed by the APC and one of its members, Williams Edobor, originated at the Federal High Court in Abuja ahead of the September 2020 Edo governorship election.

Mr Obaseki, who contested for a second term under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), eventually won the election.

5. President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also faced scrutiny over the authenticity of the academic certificates he submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body.

During the 2023 election cycle, controversies arose regarding discrepancies in his academic records from Chicago State University (CSU).

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had claimed that documents showing that Tinubu graduated from Chicago State in 1979 are not authentic, arguing that it is ground to nullify Tinubu’s election victory.

The institution, however, later confirmed that Tinubu graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

The confirmation statement by Chicago State University reads:

‘As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records. Federal law known as FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.

‘In August 2023, a request was made in U.S. federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student. The university has confirmed Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.

‘CSU is confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate. The university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request, and a U.S. federal judge will determine whether the university will provide further requested information.

‘Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.’

The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar and Heads of Missions for questioning over the utilisation of appropriated funds by the foreign missions in 2025.

The Committee, in a letter dated July 24, 2025 and signed by its Chairman, Rep Busayo Oluwole Oke, anchored its powers on Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) to demand detailed records of utilisations of the funds by the various agencies.

The nation’s foreign missions have, in the past few years, been poorly funded, leading to poor consular services to Nigerians abroad. This is in addition to allegations of corruption by officials of the missions abroad.

Earlier in 2025, the Oke-led Committee commenced an investigation into allegations of a contract scandal involving the alleged mismanagement of $2 million for the renovation of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

The Invitation letter inviting Tuggar and Heads of Missions reads in part, ‘The Missions are required to furnish the following documents: approved budget of the missions from 2024-2025; budget performance of the missions for the above years; record of special interventions released to the missions and their applications between 2018-2025 and staff nominal roll for both home and local staff.

‘The Honourable Minister is kindly requested to bring the content of this letter to all Heads of Missions.’

Another letter, dated July 3, 2025, signed by the Director of Funds on behalf of the Accountant General of the Federation, revealed that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration released a total of $54 million to cater to the needs of the nation’s 103 Embassies and High Commissions.

While overhead cost got an allocation of $46.14m, personal cost accounted for $9.58m, with overhead allocated $282,829.

Speaking on the development in Abuja, Rep Oke commended President Tinubu for the intervention, even as he charged Tuggar and Heads of the various missions to provide the Committee with detailed records of the disbursement of the funds.

He said, ‘We commend the President for intervening, and we are thankful for his commitment to revive the missions. His intervention in 2025 will go a long way in projecting a great image for our country.

‘We urge the missions to come forth and inform Nigerians through their representatives in parliament how the intervention funds have been utilised. This will ensure transparency and accountability, which are two basic requirements for good governance.’

A breakdown of the disbursement showed that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs was allocated $5.89m, while the Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow got $1.96m. The nation’s Embassy in Rome, Italy, got $2.82m, while Vienna and Athens got $1.09m and $1.04m, respectively.

Others include Embassy of Nigeria in Tel Aviv-$1.8m; Addis Ababa $1.92m; Consulate General of Nigeria, Jeddah $1.48m; Consulate General of Nigeria, Dubai $1.26m and Embassy of Nigeria, Madrid, Spain $1.23m; Embassies of Nigeria in Tehran/Abu Dhabi $1.18m, among others.

According to Oke, the committee is not on a witch-hunt mission but ‘Is merely responding to the need to make governance count for Nigeria and Nigerians.’

Niger State Police Command has arrested 13 additional suspects in connection with the vandalism and theft of navigation lock metals and beams valued at over ?4.8 billion from the Kainji Power Plant.

The development followed a follow-up investigation into the case earlier transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, on August 12, 2025.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a crime bulletin made available to journalists on Wednesday in Minna. The Kanji power plant remains vital to the region’s energy supply.

According to the statement, the new arrests were made on September 26, 2025, by SCID operatives. Preliminary findings revealed that two of the suspects, identified as Abubakar Jibril, 51, of Borgu LGA (Store Keeper), and Abdullateef Musa, 53, of Kwara State (Business Risk/Internal Control Officer), are staff members of Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MSEL) – the company managing the Kainji plant.

The two officials allegedly conspired to steal 100 new 40-amp batteries from the company’s store, hiding them among items marked for auction before selling them and sharing the proceeds. This theft poses significant challenges to the security of the Kanji power plant operations.

Other suspects arrested include Aliyu Salihu (aka Cixxe), 42; Ishaq Suleiman Adam, 35; Timothy Joseph, 32; and Abdulmalik Jimmy Gudah, 33 – all said to be security personnel on duty who allegedly aided in disposing of the stolen items and profited from the act.

Two cleaners in the company – Joseph Steven, 36, of Otukpo LGA, Benue State, and Babangida Abdullahi, 42, of Borgu LGA – were also implicated for allegedly participating in the theft and sale of some vandalised metals.

Other suspects named in the bulletin are Labaran Haruna, 20; Haruna Usman, 40; Shuaibu Hassan, 48; Musa Salihu, 24; and Sabon Mati, 47, a Nigerien national – all residents of Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu LGA.

SP Abiodun said a large metal shackle used to hold down beams attached to the lock gate was recovered from Labaran, who allegedly bought it from Haruna, described as a vigilante worker in the yard.

‘Shuaibu, Musa, and Sabon were discovered to be scrap metal dealers who received and sold the vandalised metals, sharing the proceeds among themselves,’ Abiodun stated.

He added that all suspects are currently in police custody, undergoing interrogation to aid further investigation and the arrest of their collaborators, with prosecution to follow upon completion of inquiries.

The Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN), Kaduna State chapter, has expressed deep concern over the rising number of illegal private colleges of health technology operating across Kaduna State.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, the chairman of ACHPN, Kaduna state chapter, Comrade Aliyu Abdulrasheed Umar, noted that only 25 schools or colleges of health technology are operating legally against over 60 illegal schools.

He warned that the operations of these mushroom schools pose a serious threat to public health and professional standards within the community health sector.

‘As of today, we have only 25 schools that are recognised. Over 60 schools or colleges of health technology are operating without accreditation by the board. Posing a serious health challenge.

‘These schools are claiming to train Community Health Practitioners without approval from the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN).

‘We have identified several illegal institutions across various Local Government Areas, misleading the public and producing unqualified personnel. This act promotes quackery and undermines the quality of health care delivery in our communities,’ he said.

The association has submitted a comprehensive list of unaccredited schools to the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, urging immediate action to: checkmate and close the illegal institutions in collaboration with security agencies and Local Government Councils.

The chairman also said they advised the ministry to publish the list of duly recognised and accredited health institutions in the state and restrict clinical training in public health facilities to students from approved institutions only.

Umar also called on parents and guardians to verify the accreditation status of any school before enrolling their wards to avoid wasting time and resources on unrecognised programmes.

‘ACHPN remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the Community Health profession and will continue to work with the Ministry of Health and CHRN to ensure only qualified practitioners serve the people of Kaduna State,’ he added.

The association further appealed to the media to help sensitise the public on the dangers of patronising unaccredited schools and the need to uphold professional health standards.

The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of ‘lying to Nigerians’ about his alleged bid to secure a third term in office during his tenure as Nigeria’s leader.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kalu dismissed Obasanjo’s recent denial of the third term agenda as a ‘naked fallacy,’ insisting that the former president had personally confided in him and several other governors about his intention to amend the constitution to enable him to remain in power beyond 2007.

‘With due respect to President Obasanjo, what he said in Ghana was a naked lie, a naked fallacy,’ Kalu declared. ‘Many people who were part of that period are still alive – David Mark is alive, others are alive. They know the truth.’

The senator alleged that substantial sums of money were distributed to lawmakers in an attempt to gain their support for the proposed constitutional amendment that would have extended Obasanjo’s tenure.

‘Senator Wande brought ?50 million which they shared, and they asked me if I would take as a governor,’ Kalu recounted. ‘I said no – go and give it back. Even the National Security Adviser at that time was aware of what was happening. Obasanjo was at the centre of it all.’

According to Kalu, his refusal to support the move was the beginning of his political rift with the former president.

‘My quarrel with him started when I told Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and George Bush of the United States that Obasanjo was running for a third term,’ he said. ‘I even told Nelson Mandela, may his soul rest in peace. They all confronted him. I don’t know why Nigeria should be built on lies by statesmen.’

Responding to Obasanjo’s recent claim that no Nigerian ‘dead or alive’ could assert he sought a third term, Kalu maintained that the former president had personally discussed the plan with him.

‘Of course, he told me in the Villa,’ Kalu said. ‘That was the beginning. I told him it was not possible. He had already convinced some governors, but people like me and a few others said no. I am a committed Christian. I took an oath with the Bible to serve for only eight years, and that was the end of it.’

He added that Obasanjo often referred to long-serving leaders such as Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi as justification for his ambition, an idea Kalu described as fundamentally undemocratic.

‘He used to say Gaddafi was still there, others were still there,’ Kalu recalled. ‘But democracy is about the rule of law. The beauty of constitutional democracy is the time limits. If the constitution says eight years, nobody should go beyond that. Anyone who tries is inviting the wrath of God.’

Kalu maintained that the third term plot was widely known among the political class at the time.

‘He told many northern governors too. If those governors are courageous enough, they will say the truth,’ Kalu said. ‘He wanted a third term, and we stopped him. He was even at loggerheads with Governor Peter Odili over it. The man cannot rewrite history – it is clear he wanted a third term.’

The lawmaker stated that his resistance to Obasanjo’s ambition was motivated by his commitment to constitutional order rather than personal grievances.

‘We stopped him because of the constitution,’ he affirmed. ‘Our constitution is supreme. Even the U.S. government under President George Bush supported efforts to stop him. History will remember that some of us stood for democracy,’ he said.

The Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muazu Musa Omeiza, has said the state government is targeting over 1.9 million children aged between 9 months to 14 years, with the Measles-Rubella vaccination, protecting them from two highly infectious and potentially deadly diseases.

He stated this at the Integrated Measles-Rubella campaign flag-off ceremony in Lokoja sponsored by UNICEF and other donors.

‘We are deploying the novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV2) to strengthen our defence against any resurgence of the polio virus and maintain Nigeria’s hard-earned polio-free status.

‘In some of our communities yet unreached, we are introducing the HPV vaccine for girls aged between 9 to 14 years and following up in communities where girls within the targeted age range may have been missed. The HPV vaccine aims to prevent cervical cancer, which has claimed too many lives of women, lives we can now save through timely vaccination.

‘The campaign came at a critical time across the country and globally, where we are witnessing rising cases of vaccine-preventable diseases due to immunity gaps worsened by disruptions in services during the past years.

‘Our teams are prepared. We have conducted microplanning down to the ward level. Cold chain and logistics have been mobilised. Social mobilisation teams are working to engage every segment of the community. The structures are in place; what we need now is the full participation of every household,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Okehi local government area Immunisation Officer (LIO), Mr Salami Oni Salihu, while speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday in Ihima, stated that they are targeting about 88,854 children for Polio vaccination, while they are also targeting 147,580 children for Measles-Rubella vaccination.

He commended the state government and UNICEF, and other donors that sponsored the programme.

In the area of challenges, he further disclosed that the lack of funds is preventing them from reaching Fulani settlements in that local government for immunisation.

He pleaded for more funds so that children in the Fulani community can always benefit from the immunisation.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with our correspondent commended the Kogi State government and UNICEF, and other donors, for the sponsorship.

Hajia Rabiu Suleiman and Miss Rebecca Joseph respectively said that given their children’s immunisation will enhance their good health, as they thank the sponsored UNICEF.

Hundreds of students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the anti-masses stance of the PENGASAN, which, according to them, is adversely affecting the masses.

The students’ body also frowned against what it described as the anti-masses stance of the PENGASSAN and the forced unionisation of workers at the Dangote Refinery, while also calling for an end to union harassment and industrial blackmail of local refineries.

The peaceful protest held at the Oworo Berger in Lagos saw students and youths carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Dangote Refinery-Pride of Africa’, ‘Stop the sabotage’, ‘Save Dangote Refinery’, ‘Stop the politics of petroleum’, when you attack Dangote, you attack development, support indigenous industries and not monopoly and calling the government to action on the well-being of the masses.

NANS President, Comrade Olusola Oladoja, warned international saboteurs and their local collaborators to desist from frustrating Dangote Refinery and other emerging private investments in the oil and gas sector.

Oladoja, who was represented by the NANS National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adeyemi Ajasa, described the protest as a national warning signal to the government and the industry actors that Nigerian students and the youths are fully awakened.

He said, ‘The danger of economic sabotage cannot be overemphasised. The Nigerian experience in the textile industry stands as a tragic warning. The textile industry was once the second largest employer of labour after the Federal Government, but it was destroyed through the duty-free importation and the government’s failure to protect local industries.

‘We reject the same negligence in the petroleum sector. We won’t allow sabotage of the industry and the undue union pressure or policies, hostilities towards private refineries like Dangote and BUA Refineries.

‘The emerging conspiracy against private refineries is well noted. The current importers of petroleum products and exporters of crude oil, including the DAPPMAN, International Oil Companies (IOC) are using trade unions, industry regulators and government agencies to frustrate the operations of private refineries.

‘The most recent of this is the unconstitutional attempt by PENGASSAN to impose union membership on workers of Dangote Refinery. This is an act of cohesion and a violation of section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution as amended, which guarantees freedom of association.

‘Private refinery workers have every right to choose their form of representation, either or not to join any union. The academic staff in private universities are not compelled to join ASUU. Also, lecturers in private polytechnics are not under ASUOP, while teachers in private colleges of education are not members of COEASU. So why should workers at the Dangote Refinery be forced to join any union?

‘This is nothing but a calculated attempt to frustrate Dangote Refinery and other emerging private investments in the petroleum sector. NANS will resist this move with every legitimate move possible.’

Oladoja made four-point demands of the Federal government. This, according to him, includes ‘prioritising crude oil supply to Nigerian refineries. The Federal Government, through the NNPC, must make an open commitment to give supply priority of crude oil to all Nigerian refineries, including private refineries.

‘The government just put an end to crude undervaluation to foreign refineries. There must be an immediate end to selling crude at a cheaper rate to foreign refineries. Local refineries must be incentivised.

‘There must be less priority on importation of petroleum products at the expense of local refineries. The Nigerian students stand firmly on the side of industrial growth and job creation. We won’t fold our arms while international saboteurs and their local collaborators destroy the new Nigeria we are currently enjoying.’

As part of efforts to promote sustainable housing, the Federal Government has finalized plans to establish building materials manufacturing hubs across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, in his keynote address at the South-West Housing and Construction Exhibition and Trade Fair 2025, held in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Dangiwa said each of the hubs would help localise production, reduce import dependence, lower costs, and create jobs.

‘The hub will host factories producing cement, steel, tiles, sanitary ware, paints, and doors, all within one industrial ecosystem. When operational, it will create over 50,000 jobs, strengthen the Naira by reducing imports, and position Lagos as a regional export centre for building materials. This is housing as industrialisation turning construction into a complete economic ecosystem,’ the Minister said.

He explained that his ministry is ready to work hand in hand with state governments, investors, and professionals to unlock the potential of housing as a driver of jobs, industry, and prosperity-touching lives and transforming communities across the nation.

Speaking on the theme of the exhibition, ‘Renewed Hope Housing: Driving Regional Growth,’ the Minister said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not see housing merely as a social service, but as a powerful engine of economic transformation and inclusive growth.

He described the South-West zone as a trailblazer in translating the Renewed Hope vision into tangible results, revealing that the Federal Government is set to develop 2,000 units of the Renewed Hope City at Ibeju-Lekki.

‘This is a landmark project expanding affordable housing along the Lekki industrial corridor near the Free Trade Zone and the Dangote Refinery. It will ease pressure on the mainland, create thousands of jobs, and open new frontiers for urban and industrial growth.

‘In Osun, construction has commenced on the 250-unit Renewed Hope Estate in Osogbo, providing modern homes for workers, artisans, and business people while stimulating the local construction economy.

‘In Oyo, work is ongoing on the Renewed Hope Estate at Ajoda, Ibadan, featuring modern bungalows complete with roads, water, power, and drainage. These are not promises; they are projects that can be visited, seen, and touched – clear evidence that the Renewed Hope Agenda is working.’

In his remarks, the convener of the exhibition and trade fair, Dr Olayemi Rotimi-Shodimu, spoke on the Construction Artisan Training School and Construction Artisans Market, initiatives aimed at revolutionising the construction industry and empowering young people.

Shodimu stated, ‘The training school will provide comprehensive training programs, mentorship, and certification in various construction trades. Our curriculum will be industry-driven, ensuring that our graduates meet the needs of the construction sector.

‘The marketplace will serve as a platform to onboard trained artisans, connecting them with industry players, contractors, and clients. This will enable artisans to access job opportunities, gain experience, and build their professional networks.’

He explained that the project is aimed at equipping one million artisans with industry-relevant skills by 2035, aligning with the nation’s economic development goals. ‘We will utilise this project as a vehicle to achieve our vision of creating a thriving construction industry driven by skilled and empowered artisans,’ he added.

The President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Builder Daniel Kolade, charged the South-West to be a model of housing-led development.

He said the Institute is ready to work with the Ogun State Government, other state governments in the region, and the private sector to ensure that Renewed Hope Housing translates into real homes, real jobs, and real development.

A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said that no banking regulation was breached by the defendants in the trial.

The prosecution witness 3 (PW3), Abimbola Williams, who stated this while testifying before an FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Wednesday, said during cross-examination that no banking regulation was breached in the transactions allowed by her bank, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.

Bello and his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, were arraigned on Nov 27, 2024 on a 16-count- charge bordering on alleged property fraud to the tune of N110 billion..

When the matter was called for continuation of hearing, Abimbola Williams, a Compliance Officer with UBA, admitted that she had given similar evidence before the Federal High Court in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Yahaya Bello.

She, however, admitted not being the relationship or account manager of the Kogi Government House account and that the account was domiciled in Lokoja but noted that transactions were in line with stipulated guidelines.

The witness, who had testified that she worked at the Area 3, Abuja branch of UBA at a previous FHC hearing on March 6, 2025, told the court that she could work at any branch.

On cross-examination by the Defence Counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), she confirmed that her job as a compliance officer included protecting the integrity of the bank from legal penalty, reputational damage and financial losses, and also confirmed multiple transactions by Abdulsalam Hudu (third defendant) in the sum of N10 million each between July 31 and August 6, 2019.

Abimbola told the court that she was not in a position to know why the withdrawals were made when asked, and explained that when making transfer, the bank asks for purpose of transaction and relationship on high volume transactions.

But she added that the bank does not make such enquiries in the case of cash withdrawal, noting that the banker was not an internal auditor of the customer.

Abimbola also mentioned transfers, in tranches, by one Bello Abdullateef, on July 5, 2019, saying that the bank did not breach any regulations in allowing the withdrawals or transfers.

She said that there was no withdrawal that went beyond N10 million in all the transactions presented before the court.

She claimed to have been with the bank for 19 years, adding that she understood the duties of a cashier, which included paying cash and receiving cash.

Abimbola had earlier listed the authorised signatories on the Kogi Government House account, as at 2004, to include Christopher Enefola, Permanent Secretary; Onekutu Daniel, Chief Accountant and Hudu Abdulsalami, Accountant as contained in Exhibits F2, Page 37.

She mentioned a letter dated, September 2008, with three signatures – Elder P.S Ocheni, Abbas Ibrahim Abubakar, Chief Accountant and Abdulsalami Hudu, Senior Accountant.

During cross-examination by Counsel for the second defendant, Mr. A.M. Aliyu SAN, presented the witness with a bank statement marked page 3 of F1, May 27, 2019, where the withdrawals were made.

Earlier, during cross-examination by Daudu, the witness had admitted that she had not met or had any business to do with the second defendant, Umar Oricha as well as the first defendant, former Gov. Yahaya Bello before.

Justice Maryanne Anenih later adjourned the matter until Oct. 9 for continuation.

Counsel to the second defendant, AM Aliyu, however, objected to the admissibility of the document tendered, saying it did not comply with the provisions of the Evidence Act.

The Court observed that the document tendered by the prosecution was actually addressed to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja and signed by Victoria Eta-Messi, Director, Voter Education and Publicity Department, the exercise, which was expected to be concluded on Wednesday, has now been extended to Sunday, 12th October 2025.

The statement disclosed that ‘as of 7th October 2025, a total of 55,346 new voter registrations had been recorded in the FCT, comprising 38,528 online pre-registrations and 16,818 completed physical registrations.’

The statement noted that the impressive turnout underscores the growing civic awareness among residents and the effectiveness of devolving the exercise to the grassroots.

The statement maintained that ‘the online pre-registration option in the FCT remains suspended to enable all pre-registrants to complete their registration in person at the designated centres.’

The statement read: ‘At its Third Quarterly Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held on Tuesday, 7th October 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reviewed ongoing electoral activities, including the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

‘Following the review, the Commission approved a four-day extension of the ongoing ward-level CVR exercise in the FCT. Consequently, the exercise, which was earlier scheduled to end today, Wednesday, 8th October 2025, will now continue until Sunday, 12th October 2025.

‘As of 7th October 2025, a total of 55,346 new voter registrations had been recorded in the FCT, comprising 38,528 online pre-registrations and 16,818 completed physical registrations.

‘This impressive turnout underscores the growing civic awareness among residents and the effectiveness of devolving the exercise to the grassroots.

‘As earlier announced, the online pre-registration option in the FCT remains suspended to enable all pre-registrants to complete their registration in person at the designated centres. This measure ensures the validity of their records in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

‘The Commission once again appeals to all eligible citizens who have not yet registered to take advantage of this extension. Registered voters who wish to transfer their registration to the FCT, or within the FCT, are also encouraged to do so within this period. However, citizens are reminded that multiple registration is a punishable offence under the law.

‘The list and addresses of all registration centres remain available on the Commission’s website and official social media platforms.

‘The Commission appreciates the cooperation of FCT residents and the dedication of its field officials and stakeholders to ensuring a seamless and inclusive registration exercise.’