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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Federal Government of attempting to cover up yet another scandal following the resignation of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

Nnaji stepped down on Tuesday after a Premium Times investigation alleged that he submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates to the Senate during his ministerial screening in 2023. Both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the National Youth Service Corps reportedly disowned the documents.

Reacting in a post on X on Wednesday, Atiku described the resignation as an ‘attempt to whitewash a national disgrace,’ saying Nnaji should have been dismissed and prosecuted instead of being allowed to ‘quietly exit through the backdoor.’

He wrote, ‘The resignation of Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has once again exposed the deep moral crisis in this government. What should be a matter of national shame is now being disguised as a voluntary resignation-an attempt to whitewash yet another scandal that typifies the forgery-ridden character of this administration.

‘Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification. By permitting him to quietly exit through the backdoor, the government has again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants.’

Atiku also criticised the Department of State Services (DSS), saying it cleared Nnaji despite glaring discrepancies in his credentials, while it had previously screened out former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai over ‘security concerns.’

‘What makes this even more embarrassing,’ he added, ‘is that the same DSS which screened out El-Rufai is the very agency that cleared Uche Nnaji.’

The PDP chieftain linked the controversy to what he called a ‘pattern of deceit that begins from the very top,’ referencing past controversies surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic and identity records.

Atiku further called for an independent probe into the credentials of all Federal Executive Council members, including the President, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those in power.

‘Until this cleansing is done,’ he said, ‘Nigeria will continue to sink deeper into moral decay, economic ruin, and global embarrassment.’

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service, has listed 5,015 bags of foreign rice, equivalent to eight trailer loads, alongside 15 assorted used vehicles among the contrabands worth over ?1.2 billion it seized in the past within the last six weeks.

The Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Shu’aibu, disclosed this during a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.

Shu’aibu listed other items intercepted by Customs operatives to 143 bales of used clothing, two jumbo sacks of used shoes, and one sack of assorted worn apparel 390 bottles of codeine, 310 foreign-branded drugs, 19 cards of tramadol, and 210 used tyres.

He also said a 20-foot container with number ONEU 2419369 FTC, containing 752 cartons of calcium lactate, was also seized for false declaration.

According to him, the total Duty Paid Value of the seized goods stood at ?1.188 billion, underscoring the magnitude of the operations.

The Customs boss further revealed that 640 parcels of cannabis sativa, weighing 431.8 kilogrammes, and 460 jerrycans of petrol, totalling 11,500 litres, were also intercepted.

Other seized items included expired pharmaceuticals, footwear, and clothing recovered across border communities in Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and Lagos states, highlighting the unit’s increased vigilance across the South-West.

The Customs’ boss also said four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and have been handed over to relevant agencies for investigation and prosecution.

Shu’aibu said the unit recovered ?39.2 million through demand notices issued against under-valuations between 1 Sept. 1 and Oct. 7.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade and supporting lawful businesses while maintaining strict enforcement of customs regulations.

Demonstrating inter-agency collaboration, Shu’aibu handed the seized drugs and cannabis to NAFDAC and the NDLEA for further investigation and disposal.

He reiterated the unit’s resolve to enforce the 2016 ban on the importation of foreign parboiled rice through land borders.

The controller warned smugglers to desist or face sanctions and commended Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi for his exemplary leadership.

NAFDAC Chief Regulatory Officer, Mr Taiwo Kareem, lauded Customs’ vigilance, disclosing that the intercepted drugs had expired between 2001 and 2023.

He cautioned Nigerians against purchasing medicines from roadside chemists, stressing the risks of consuming expired or counterfeit products.

Deputy Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, Mr Nasir Bungudu, also commended Customs for their cooperation and promised to strengthen inter-agency collaboration.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has screened 176 exceptional underage candidates who scored very high marks in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The screening, meant to assess talented students below 16 years old for possible university admission for the 2025/2026 academic session, was held in Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri.

According to Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Chairman of the Abuja screening centre and former Minister of Sports, the process included a written test, oral interviews, and face-to-face interactions with the candidates.

He said 22 candidates were screened in Abuja, and 176 nationwide, adding that JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, would decide when the results would be released.

Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, praised JAMB for giving gifted underage students a chance to prove their abilities.

He said it was necessary to test their maturity and readiness for university life, stressing that only those who perform well should be allowed to proceed.

Also, Hon. Oboku Oforji, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, commended the students for their impressive performance, saying it showed the strength of Nigeria’s education system.

In Owerri, Professor Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), led the screening for the South-East and South-South zones.

He expressed satisfaction with the candidates’ conduct and confirmed that the process followed JAMB’s strict guidelines.

In Nigeria, the official minimum age for university admission is 16, though most students are 18 or older when they gain entry.

Out of over 41,000 underage applicants for the 2025 UTME, only 599 scored 80 percent and above. After further checks, just 176 met all requirements and were selected for final assessment.

The screening panel included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), Vice Chancellors, and the Gifted Schools that produced the applicants undergoing the screening.

A 47-year-old man identified as Adetayo Adewodun, disguising as an officer of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has reportedly confessed that he and members of his gang make an average of N65, 000 daily extorting unsuspecting motorists.

The fake LASTMA officer was arrested after extorting N7,800 from a motorist identified as Mr Stephen Ayano for making a wrong turn.

This was disclosed by Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager, LASTMA, in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said that that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday, near the Itire Junction axis of the state.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, posing as an operative of LASTMA, accosted one Mr Stephen Ayano, the victim and demanded for the sum of ?80,000 from him for allegedly making an unlawful turn at the junction.

‘The suspect told his victim that the amount is the penalty for the traffic violation.

‘Unable to meet the outrageous demand, the victim pleaded and eventually parted with the only cash (N7, 800) in his possession and handed it to the fake officer.’

The LASTMA general manager noted that shortly after the transaction, the victim became suspicious of the suspect’s demeanor and promptly contacted the agency through its toll-free hotline (0800-00-LASTMA / 0800-005-27862) to verify the authenticity of the alleged officer.

He said that acting on the distress report, LASTMA’s Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, was swiftly mobilised to the location.

He said that on sighting the approaching enforcement team, the suspect attempted to flee but was pursued and apprehended and immediately conveyed to the LASTMA headquarters for interrogation.

‘During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a three-man criminal syndicate that routinely parade themselves as LASTMA personnel around the Itire axis.

‘He also said that the gang operates across several road intersections and makes an average of N65, 000 daily,’ Bakare-Oki.

The LASTMA boss commended the vigilance and prompt report made by the victim, describing it as a demonstration of civic responsibility.

He reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering dedication to integrity, professionalism, and transparency in traffic management operations in the state.

Bakare-Oki also reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance policy towards impersonation and fraudulent practices.

He emphasised that all authentic LASTMA officers could be distinctly identified by their official uniforms, personalised name tags, and unique service identification numbers.

‘I can assure the public that the suspect will be arraigned before a Mobile Court.

‘This is to serve as a deterrent to other unscrupulous elements who habitually disguise as LASTMA officials to extort innocent members of the public,’ he said.

The General Manager further reaffirmed that LASTMA remains resolute in its mandate to entrench order, discipline, and sanity on Lagos roads, while safeguarding law-abiding motorists from fraudulent exploitation.

Former Presidential aide to the late Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has hinted that two governors from the northern region are on the verge of defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ahmad, who served as Buhari’s Special Assistant on New Media, made the disclosure in a post on X on Wednesday, suggesting that the official announcement could happen within days.

‘In just a matter of days, the Governor of Taraba State and another Governor from the North West will officially join our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),’ Ahmad wrote.

The revelation has sparked intense political discussions, with observers describing it as a strategic boost for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

If confirmed, the defection of the Taraba State Governor-currently a PDP stronghold-would mark a major political win for the APC in the North East, while the yet-to-be-identified North-West Governor could further tilt the regional balance in favour of the ruling party.

While the APC leadership has yet to make an official statement, party insiders say the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing strategy to strengthen the party’s grip across key northern states.

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday reserved its ruling until Thursday, 9 October, on the admissibility of digital evidence tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Justice Rahman Oshodi fixed the date after hearing intense arguments from both the prosecution and the defence on whether the documents and messages extracted from a former executive assistant to Emefiele met the legal requirements for admissibility.

Emefiele is standing trial alongside his associate, Mr Henry Omoile, on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged receipt of gratification, corrupt demands, and unlawful acceptance of gifts.

The charges involve financial transactions reportedly totalling $4.5 billion and ?2.8 billion.

During Wednesday’s hearing, EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), led operative Mr Alvan Gurumnaan in continuing his testimony on digital evidence obtained during the investigation.

The evidence included WhatsApp conversations allegedly showing coded exchanges and instructions on cash deliveries. Gurumnaan told the court that the acronym ‘PCS’ seen in the chats meant ‘piece’, a term the parties allegedly used to refer to $1,000 units.

He also testified that messages recovered from the phone of Emefiele’s former executive assistant, Mr John Adetola, revealed discussions with one Mr Eric Eboh, who purportedly instructed Adetola to deliver $400,000 to the former CBN governor.

The witness added that Adetola confirmed delivering the money and that efforts to trace Eboh were still ongoing.

While some documents dated February 2024 were admitted without objection, defence lawyers, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), opposed the admissibility of others extracted from Adetola’s device.

They argued that the digital evidence had not been properly certified as required under Section 84 of the Evidence Act.

The EFCC, however, countered that the documents were primary evidence, not requiring certification, since they were directly extracted from the original device using verified forensic tools.

Oyedepo added that any EFCC officer familiar with the extraction process could validly testify to their authenticity.

Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter until 9 October for a ruling on the admissibility of the evidence.

The bid by Anambra governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for a second term got a boost on Tuesday with his endorsement by non-indigenes living in the state.

The mammoth crowd of non-indigenes from all the geopolitical zones of the country converged on the International Conference Centre (ICC), Awka, the state capital, to endorse Soludo’s re-election bid in the November 8, 2025, governorship poll.

The spokesperson of the organisers of the event held on the aegis ‘Patriots’, Chief Damian Enekwechi, said the decision to endorse the Soludo’s administration was because it has performed well.

According to him, the non-indigenes decided decided to endorse the governor’s second-term bid so that the state would attain the Dubai-Silicon Valley status of the administration’s dream.

Speaking at the event, Soludo said he appreciated the outpouring of sentiments expressed by various tribes and pledges of support for actualisation of his second term ambition.

‘I appreciate your support for us to go for a second term. I do not take this for granted,’ the Governor said while reiterating his believe in one Nigeria while revealing that as an undergraduate, he was a coordinator of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the 1983 election.

He said the motto of NPN was ‘One Nation, One Destiny’.

‘God didn’t make a mistake in putting us together as people of the same country with the potential to be the leaders of the black race. So, wherever we find ourselves, we should accept each other and work the talk,’ he said.

According to him, ‘I’ve been in public service at the national level and I am now in Anambra State and we live out the same principles.

I don’t care where you come from. Some of my best friends are Muslims from the North. The best two drivers I ever had were from the North. Two of them are from Kogi and it didn’t matter to me where they came from.

‘Some of my finest friends were not of the same religion as I. They are not Igbo, not Christians. That is why in Anambra, we have one state, one agenda. We don’t have boundaries. Religion, location and local government are not our concern. Once you live in Anambra, you are of Anambra. I thank all of you for being good citizens of Nigeria,’ Soludo said.

The Federal Government said on Wednesday that it has commenced the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions threatening to go on strike over their unmet demands.

Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday.

Alausa who spoke during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU expressed optimism that outstanding issues would soon be resolved to prevent further industrial action.

He said the group was finalising a counter-offer to be presented to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee.

According to him, the committee’s work aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that all efforts must be made to keep Nigerian students in school and avoid disruptions to the academic calendar.

‘The President has made it clear that our children must remain in school. The technical working group is working to finalise a component of the condition of service that has to be proposed. They are working to finalise a counter-offer to them.

‘Hopefully by the end of today, or latest tomorrow, the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expected Negotiations Committee will receive that counter-offer to ASUU.’

The minister noted that about 80 per cent of the unions’ demands were similar across tertiary institutions, with the remaining 20 per cent reflecting sector-specific concerns.

He said that the committee, inaugurated earlier in the week, had begun intensive deliberations to fast-track agreement and implementation timelines.

He added that this present administration had made significant progress already with the payment of the Earned Academic Allowance of ?50 billion released by Tinubu.

‘In addition, N150 billion was included in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, and this will be released in three tranches, with the first N50 billion ready.

‘They (lecturers) deserve to be paid so much and our academic and non-academic staff. But then, we can’t give you everything you want at the same time.

‘But it’s the gesture, our benevolence, commitment to at least get substantial benefits and financial reward to you.

‘This government is doing other things to improve your welfare. At this point, we’ve addressed several of the issues that we’ve brought up,’ he said.

Alausa also confirmed that promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances, including teaching and wage awards, had been addressed, while all remaining areas would be cleared by 2026.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to mutual respect and sustainable solutions, he appealed to academic and non-academic unions to exercise patience and avoid strikes as a first resort.

‘We have resolved a lot of these issues. But we know the final part is the condition of service. We will resolve that as well.

‘So we are pleading with the unions, both academic and non-academic and tertiary institutions to be patient. This government is sincere and we are truthful.

‘We have shown you this over the last 24 months plus, that the administration of President Bola Tinubu came on board. So please bear with us and be patient,’ Alausa said.

He added that, for the first time, the Solicitor General of the Federation and officials of the Ministry of Justice were directly involved in the negotiation process.

This move he said was aimed at ensuring legal soundness and enforce-ability of all agreements reached.

ASUU had last week’S Monday announced that it would shut down all the public universities in the country to press home its demands.

The union said it would first herald a two-week warning strike before embarking on a total and indefinite strike over alleged failure of federal government to meet its demands.