NBA wants accountability in UK property controversy involving prominent Nigerians

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Anti-Corruption Committee has thrown its weight behind the move by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to probe the controversial property dispute in the United Kingdom involving prominent Nigerian lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, PM News has gathered.

The matter, which came before Judge Ewan Paton of the First-Tier Tribunal, Property Chamber, Land Registration, under Case Number REF/2023/0155, was between one Tali Shani (Applicant) and Chief Ozekhome (Respondent) over ownership of 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. In a statement signed by its chairman, Prof. Babafemi A. Badejo, the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee said the case has raised several questions about the authenticity of documents, the role of Nigerian lawyers, and possible involvement of civil servants in fraudulent practices.

According to the Committee, issues such as the alleged procurement of fake National Identification Numbers (NIN), fraudulent use of MTN phone numbers, fake ECOWAS passports, and attempts to create fictitious identities to advance the case, must be fully investigated. The Committee also noted that Judge Paton had linked the controversial London property to the late Lt. General Jeremiah Useni, suggesting it was acquired under questionable circumstances similar to the £1.9 million case decided against him at the Royal Court of Jersey in 2022.

It urged the AGF to ensure Nigeria asserts its interest in the property with a view to possible restitution. Expressing concern over past cases that were abandoned once media attention faded, the Committee stressed the need for transparency and accountability this time.

Furthermore, it recommended that Dr. George Ekpungu, Esq., Alternate Chairman of the NBA Anti-Corruption Committee, and Mr. Bayo Akinlade, Esq., Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch Anti-Corruption Committee, be included in the investigative process.

The statement was copied to NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, as well as other national officers of the Association.

Court fixes date for Abuja land dispute suit against Iyabo Obasanjo, others

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, fixed Nov. 6 to hear a suit filed against Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo and others by ABB Electrical Systems Limited and Amb. Yohana Margif over dispute on a landed property.

Other defendants alongside Obasanjo in the suit over the property located at Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, measuring approximately 1.67Ha in Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja are the former Senator representing the FCT, Philip Aduda; Ismail Iron; John Mbata; Jamaila Sani Alhassan; Altine Jibrin, and unknown persons as 2nd to 7th defendants respectfully.

Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date on Thursday after counsel for the plaintiffs, Abniyilo Na’allah, sought an adjournment following inability to serve the defendants in the suit.

Upon resumed hearing, only Na’allah was in court and no lawyer appeared for the defence.

Na’allah then informed the court that they were yet to do the need in the matter and he sought an adjournment to put their house in order.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter until Nov. 6 for hearing.

Th case is formerly before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Justice Ekwo had, on Jan. 28, refused to grant the the ex-parte motion filed by the plaintiffs after it was moved by Na’allah.

The applicants had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents from entering, trespassing, altering or modifying the property known as Plot 4254, Cadastral Zone A04, measuring approximately 1.67Ha, Asokoro, Asokoro District FCT-Abuja belonging to the plaintiffs pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The judge, instead, directed the plaintiffs to put the defendants on notice in order to hear from them why the prayer should not be granted.

The plaintiffs had filed the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/67/2025 dated Jan. 13 but filed Jan. 17 by Na’allah.

In their six-ground argument, the applicants said they were agitated with the fear of the defendants trespassing, altering the property belonging to them.

They said they were the rightful owners of the land by virtue of the statutory Right of Occupancy granted to them.

‘That the plaintiffs/applicants have been in quiet and peaceful possession of the land without any challenge from the defendants/respondents or anyone at all.

‘It will occasion serious miscarriage of justice against the plaintiffs/applicants if the defendants/respondents are allowed to tamper with, enter, trespass, alter or modify the property belonging to the plaintiffs.

‘Allowing the defendants/respondents to tamper with, enter, trespass, alter or modify the property belonging to the plaintiffs will destroy the res and render the judgment of this court nugatory,’ they said.

The applicants said irreparable damage would be caused to them if the defendants were not restrained.

Margif, in the affidavit he deposed to, said the company (1st plaintiff) was allocated the parcel of land by the Federal Capital Development Adminstration (FCDA) covered by a Statutory Right of Occupancy with new issued date of May 23, 2006.

He said the company intended to start developing the said land in compliance with terms contained on the statutory Right of Occupancy and other guiding rules and laws within the FCT.

He alleged that the recent activities of the defendants, including Sen. Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, had become worrisome.

Margif prayed the court to grant their application in the interest of justice.

Cyber Fraud Sweep: EFCC arrests 92 suspects in Benin raid

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have arrested 92 fraud suspects in Benin City, the Edo State Capital.

The anti-graft agency said this in a social media post.

The post said, ‘Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 92 suspected internet fraudsters in Edo State.

‘They were arrested in a sting operation on Monday, September 29, 2025 at various locations within Benin City, Edo State.

‘Their arrest was based on credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in computer related crimes. All the lawful procedures of arrest were followed in the course of the arrest

‘Upon their arrest, 11 vehicles and mobile devices were recovered from them.

‘Preliminary investigations by the Commission linked the suspects with various forms of internet-related fraud. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.’

Gunmen storm Zamfara community, whisk 2 councillors, Imam away

Two councillors, representing Gidan Gona and Tsibiri wards in Maradun local government areas of Zamfara and an Imam have been abducted by yet to be identified gunmen, the police have confirmed.

The two Councillors and an Imam were abducted in Tsauni community, Gusau, the state capital on Wednesday night, spokesperson for Zamfara Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar confirmed to journalists through the telephone .

Abubakar said the victims were abducted in front of their houses in Tsauni area at about 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, shortly after prayers.

Tsauni community is located behind the Federal Road Safety, Zamfara Sector command headquarters in Gusau.

The community had hosted internally Displaced persons affected by armed banditry from different communities.

Abubakar, however, said the command had deployed its men to the area and efforts are ongoing to rescue the three victims. The PPRO urged the residents to assist the police with relevant information in good time to curtail such incidents.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Maradun local government, Sanusi Gamagiwa corroborated the PPRO’s information via telephone.

He said the suspected bandits had initially abducted six persons.

‘They later released three persons and left with the two councillors and the Imam of the area.

‘So far, they have yet to contact anyone of us to know their demands,’ the chairman said.

UNICEF, Kano govt, others target 7.8m children for measles-Rubella, polio vaccination

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Kano state government and other global health Partners, have launched an integrated vaccination campaign, targeting over 7.8 million children with vaccination for measles-Rubella and polio.

This was revealed during a Media Dialogue held in Kano. The vaccination exercise slated to hold between October 6 and 16, 2025 is designed to be the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

The targeted 7.8 million children to be vaccinated against measles-Rubella are within the age brackets of 9-14 years.

However, about 3.9 million under-five age children are to be vaccinated against polio.

The routine immunizations will also include hepatitis and HPV vaccines, as well as treatments for neglected tropical diseases such as onchocerciasis. Speaking at a media dialogue in Kano, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, described the campaign as ‘a comprehensive health package designed to protect children and communities from life-threatening diseases.

Representing the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Maryam H. Umar called on journalists to play a pivotal role in public sensitization: She said: ‘Our message is clear-we depend on you, the media, to share accurate information on the benefits of vaccination and to guide parents and caregivers on where to access these free, safe, and effective vaccines.’

Rahama Rihood M. Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, said the objective of the Media Dialogue was for the partners to share information with participants on the upcoming integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign.

He said: ‘Our gathering here today highlights the crucial role the media plays in our collaboration to ensure the well-being of children. It is important to highlight that the upcoming integrated campaign is planned and implemented collaboratively by partners including, the Federal Ministry of Health; the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency; WHO; Gavi; the Gates Foundation, Civil Society Organization, UNICEF and the Kano State Government.

‘Nigeria has planned to implement Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign integrated with Polio in all 36 states in two phases starting from 6th October 2025 till 16th February 2026.

‘Kano State falls under Phase One of the Campaign which will be implemented in 21 states in two streams. The phase 1, stream 1, holds from 6th October to 17th October 2025.’

According to him: ‘This year, between August and September, Kano State implemented two In- between Round Activities (IBRA) targeting 354,173 children under five years of age in 3,223 settlements from 125 wards across 44 LGAs achieving 82% and 98% coverage respectively by E Tally data.’

Farah further stated that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency with the support of UNICEF has allocated 3,347 teams, provided 4.6 million doses of Novel Oral Polio Vaccines (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of (bOPV) targeting 3.9 million children under five years age in the state for the October polio vaccination campaign.

‘A total of 7.8 million children from 9 months to 14 years of age will be vaccinated with Measles-Rubella vaccines in Kano state. The campaign will be implemented using a fixed, temporary post and sweep teams strategy.

Each Measles-Rubella team comprises 11 team members having two members in every sweep team for polio vaccination,’ he added.

The campaign, backed by the National Primary Health Care Management Agency , WHO, Gavi, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, civil society organizations, and the Kano State Government, has been equipped with 4.6 million doses of the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) and 4.5 million doses of the bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV).

Our Correspondent reports that the Kano campaign is part of a broader national plan to immunize 106 million children across Nigeria in two phases, with Kano leading the first phase.

Lagos Govt. begins demolition of illegal structures in Ebute Metta

Lagos State Government has begun the demolition of illegal buildings in Ebute Metta to solve problems associated with poor drainage.

The exercise which commenced on Thursday, was announced by the Lagos state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.

Wahab on his X handle, revealed that the illegal structures that were demolished were one of the major reasons behind flooding in the area. ‘Our enforcement team has removed illegal structures erected along the Jebba/Kano collector, Ebute Metta. These encroachments hinder the free passage of stormwater and are a major factor behind flooding in this area,’ Wahab stated.

Wahab also urged residents not to block drainages with waste or extensions that could affect the drainage system.

How FIFA’s stand on Israel could shape the 2026 World Cup

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has made it clear that it will not remove Israel from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, despite pressure from some football leaders and fans, PM News has learnt.

The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, said on Thursday that the world football body cannot fix political or geographical conflicts. Instead, FIFA’s main role is to encourage peace, unity, and the growth of football worldwide. Infantino explained this after a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council, where the situation with Israel was not on the official agenda.

This comes as calls have grown stronger in recent months for Israeli teams to be suspended, following the two-year conflict in Gaza.

However, those demands slowed down earlier this week after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a peace proposal at the White House. ‘FIFA cannot solve geopolitical problems,’ Infantino said. ‘But it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural, and humanitarian values.’

Israel is preparing to play its next World Cup qualifying matches in Europe. They will face Norway in Oslo on October 11 and then play against Italy in Udine on October 14.

This decision has drawn mixed reactions from football fans and officials.

Some argue that sports should remain separate from politics, while others believe FIFA should take stronger action against countries involved in conflicts.

For now, FIFA is standing firm on its position that football should continue as a tool for bringing people together, even in times of international crisis.

The next Ombudsman should be more than a watchdog

Institutions are not just offices that process cases; they are mirrors of the kind of society we live in. When institutions fail, they do more than break rules-they corrode public trust, the invisible glue that keeps a democracy intact. Among the many institutions in our country, the Ombudsman carries this burden in a profound way.

For years, Filipinos have expected the Ombudsman to be the chief prosecutor of corruption. Yet, when cases drag on for years or are seen as selective, disappointment follows. The challenge for the next Ombudsman is to go beyond this narrow view and reimagine the office as more than a courtroom adversary. The Ombudsman must also be a teacher of civic integrity, a guardian of public trust, and a voice for ordinary citizens.

The next Ombudsman cannot simply react to cases as they arrive; the office must also help rebuild the culture of integrity, so citizens once again believe that accountability is possible.

This requires bringing the Ombudsman closer to the people. Imagine an office that does not wait for complaints at its doors, but actively engages communities, teaches young people the value of honesty, and opens its processes to public scrutiny.

The fight against corruption is also a fight against inequality. The powerful often bend the rules in their favor, while ordinary citizens face expensive legal costs, delayed decisions, and complicated procedures. The next Ombudsman must make justice tangible for everyone whether they are a public school teacher, a farmer, a tricycle driver, or a market vendor. Equality before the law should be more than a constitutional phrase; it should be something people can feel in their daily lives.

Corruption is not destiny; it is a social arrangement that has been allowed to persist. If it were built, it could also be dismantled. Citizens, civil society, and public servants can create new habits of accountability, especially if the Ombudsman leads by example. Change begins with institutions that refuse to normalize corruption and instead cultivate integrity as the standard.

This does not mean abandoning prosecution, which is the Ombudsman’s core mandate. On the contrary, swift and fair handling of cases is crucial. But it must go hand in hand with prevention-through civic education, community participation, and reforms that close the loopholes where corruption festers. Only when punishment and prevention work together can we create lasting change.

The Ombudsman, in short, must be more than a watchdog. It must be an institution that inspires confidence, teaches integrity, and demonstrates fairness. When people trust that justice is accessible, they do not give up on democracy. They fight for it.

The next Ombudsman will face powerful resistance and entrenched interests. But institutions endure not because they are perfect, but because they embody a people’s aspirations. The task is not just to prosecute the corrupt but to restore hope. Filipinos must see that the law can protect the powerless, not just serve the powerful.

At stake is more than the credibility of one office. At stake is the very promise of equal citizenship. If the next Ombudsman can rise to this challenge, the office can remind us of a simple but profound truth: integrity is not just written in laws. It must be lived, taught, and passed on.

Rep. Poe: DICT on track to link all DepEd schools to internet by December

MANILA, Philippines-Representative Brian Poe has affirmed the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s commitment to connect all Department of Education target schools by December.

‘The commitment of DICT is that by the end of this year, they will be able to connect all the target sites of DepEd,’ Poe said during the Sept. 29 budget hearing for the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, where he sponsored DICT’s budget.

He reiterated a pledge made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address to close the digital divide in education.

For the government, ‘connected’ means meeting strict and measurable performance criteria. For schools served by low Earth orbit satellites, the minimum download speed is 5 megabytes per second and the upload speed is 1 to 2 megabytes per second.

DICT is monitoring compliance and engaging with service providers to ensure performance.

‘If our colleague has any instances where there are any sites that are too slow or not keeping up with the standards of DICT, I believe the agency is open to flagging these service providers because it is our goal at the end of the day to provide the best services possible to the Filipino people,’ Poe said.

Outdated networks are also being retired.

‘DICT has communicated to me that they are doing away with old technologies such as 2G and 3G, so that by next year, only new technology like LTE and 5G will be allowed by our service providers,’ he said.

The effort is backed by historic funding. The 2025 national budget includes the largest Wi-Fi appropriation in Philippine history – P5 billion in automatic annual funding, plus an additional P2.5 billion infused last year as a presidential priority.

Of that, P1.5 billion is specifically allocated to fulfill the December connectivity target. An additional P1.5 billion is also proposed in the 2026 budget to connect the remaining 12,139 DepEd schools.

Sustainability remains a concern, but Poe expressed optimism. ‘Ngayon, hopefully when this budget passes, mabibigyan po sila din ng maintenance and operating funds to be able to maintain the connections that they will build in our schools,’ he said.

He emphasized the weight of the promise. ‘The reason why I am so firm in this commitment is this was a SONA commitment of the president, and it is a priority of the DICT and a commitment we made to the Filipino people. So I believe that when they tell me three times in a row that they will connect all the schools by December, gagawin po talaga nila.’

Why rice tariffication law must be replaced

The decline in the price of palay (unmilled rice) is a serious issue faced by our farmers. Currently, the price of palay is only ?8/kg, resulting in a massive loss of income for farmers-amounting to over ?250 billion.

This is four times greater than the damage caused by the Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2012. This is not merely a market failure; it is a policy-induced disaster rooted in the structural flaws of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

Enacted in 2019, RTL dismantled the National Food Authority’s (NFA) market intervention powers, liberalized rice imports, and exposed Filipino farmers to global price shocks without adequate safeguards.

Despite amendments tripling the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to ?30 billion, the law remains irreparable. Its design privileges importers, weakens domestic production incentives, and undermines national food sovereignty.

A new law is urgently needed-one that restores the dignity of farmers, embeds climate resilience, and reclaims rice as a pillar of Filipino self-reliance.

That law is the proposed Rice Industry Sustainable Development Act (RISDA).RISDA is not a mere policy tweak; it is a systemic overhaul.

It integrates economic, ecological, and institutional reforms to rebuild the rice sector from the ground up. At its core is a commitment to guaranteed procurement, price stabilization, and farmer empowerment.

Under RISDA, the government shall purchase a minimum of 20% of the national palay harvest at a floor price of ?25/kg-adjusted annually to ensure a 30% net return above production cost.

This procurement mandate is not symbolic; it is a strategic intervention to dismantle rice trader cartels and restore market fairness. Drawing lessons from India’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and Thailand’s farmer price support schemes, RISDA repositions the NFA as a proactive market stabilizer, not a passive logistics agency.

Beyond procurement, RISDA institutionalizes a robust price support mechanism. It mandates the establishment of a dynamic floor price calibrated to grain yield, inflation, and production costs.

This ensures that farmers earning 5 tons per hectare receive a net income of ?50,000 per hectare per crop-an income floor that reflects both dignity and viability. The NFA is empowered to intervene during harvest seasons, buying palay when market prices fall below the threshold, thereby shielding farmers from predatory pricing.

Moreover, RISDA introduces a rice import parity clause: importers must purchase 60% locally grown rice for every 40% of their import volume.This creates competitive demand for domestic palay and curbs speculative importation.

To prevent price manipulation and hoarding, RISDA enforces strict penalties on profiteering, price gouging, and artificial scarcity. Licensed traders must submit periodic inventory reports, and the NFA, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will conduct regular market surveillance.

Public price bulletins and digital reporting platforms will empower consumers to monitor rice prices and report violations, democratizing market oversight.

RISDA also revives the quedan system-a warehouse receipt mechanism that allows farmers to deposit palay in accredited warehouses and use the receipts as collateral for low-interest loans. This delays market disposal until prices improve, reducing vulnerability to post-harvest price crashes.

Cooperatives will manage community warehouses, strategically located near production zones, and participate in buffer stock programs. Blockchain-based tracking and third-party audits will ensure transparency and accountability.

Programs for farmers under RISDA go far beyond input subsidies. The proposed law mandates the construction and rehabilitation of irrigation systems, prioritizing rainfed and drought-prone areas.

Solar-powered and gravity-fed networks will be developed, especially in upland and indigenous communities. Post-harvest modernization is central: drying centers, milling facilities, and climate-controlled storage hubs will be built in strategic municipalities, with cooperatives given priority access to equipment grants.

Farm-to-market roads will be geospatially planned, with 10% of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget earmarked for rice-producing regions.

RISDA embeds climate resilience through agroecological transitionIncentives will be provided to farmers who regenerate soil carbon, adopt low-emission practices, and manage local seed banks.

A national hybrid rice seed independence program will be launched, targeting 50% local seed production coverage within four years. Research institutions and state universities will collaborate with farmer-led organizations to develop climate-resilient varieties, biological pest control systems, and diversified cropping models.

Innovation hubs will be established in major rice provinces to support decentralized, participatory research.

To ensure strategic foresight and policy coherence, RISDA creates the National Rice Sustainability Council (NRSC)-a multi-sectoral body composed of government agencies, farmer cooperatives, academics, civil society, and local governments.

The NRSC will develop a National Rice Industry Roadmap, harmonize efforts across stakeholders, and monitor rice production, supply, and food security status.

Subcommittees on agroecology, seed systems, market development, and data systems will provide technical depth and ensure evidence-based policymaking.

RISDA’s buffer stock policy is aligned with international best practices. A 90-day rice reserve will be maintained to safeguard against supply disruptions, price volatility, and emergencies.

Regional reserves will be established in disaster-prone areas, and replenishment will prioritize domestic procurement. Responsible importation may supplement stocks when necessary, but never at the expense of local farmers.

Funding for RISDA will be sourced from the General Appropriations Act (GAA), with a recommended allocation of 10% of the national budget for rice sufficiency, as advised by the UN FAO.

Government corporations will be mandated to buy palay at the guaranteed floor price, ensuring a minimum 30% net return above production cost.

Investments in agricultural RandD, climate-resilient infrastructure, and cooperative capacity-building will be scaled up to secure long-term food sustainability.

In sum, RISDA is a forward-looking, systems-based reform that redefines rice governance in the Philippines. It corrects the structural failures of RTL, restores the procurement mandate of the state, and embeds farmer dignity, youth empowerment, and climate resilience into national policy.

It draws lessons from Asia’s leading rice producers-Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan, and China-while rooting its architecture in Filipino realities. RISDA is not just a legislative proposal; it is a moral imperative and a strategic necessity. The time to act is now.