Fresh questions surfaced over the prosecution’s documentary evidence in the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project trial on Thursday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) fifth witness gave testimony that drew sharp objections from the defence over inconsistencies surrounding key Federal Executive Council (FEC) documents. The witness, Barrister John Illya Iyakwari, an Assistant Director (Legal) at the Federal Ministry of Power, admitted before the FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja, that he prepared an extract of the FEC minutes tendered by the EFCC without first sighting the original minutes. He also corrected his earlier testimony, telling the court that although…
Author: National Update
A Southern political group, the Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum (SPPAF), has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to look to the South-East in selecting his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, arguing that choosing former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi could undermine the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s electoral prospects. The forum said the opposition coalition must avoid what it described as a “costly political miscalculation” by overlooking the South-East, insisting that the region offers credible political leaders capable of broadening the coalition’s appeal while addressing longstanding concerns over equity and inclusion. In a statement jointly signed by Johnson…
The Democratic Initiative Network (DIN) has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of waging a coordinated smear campaign against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, saying recent calls for his removal from office are driven by politics rather than facts. At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the group’s Director of Communications, Dr. Edwin Osuagwu, rejected Atiku’s demand that President Bola Tinubu sack the Chief of Staff, insisting that the allegations being amplified against Gbajabiamila are already the subject of ongoing investigations and judicial proceedings.…
Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Head of Transparency International (TI) Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, has been honoured with the Transparency International Amalia Award for Individual Professional Excellence, in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the global campaign against corruption. Rafsanjani received the prestigious award at the Transparency International Movement Awards Ceremony held on July 1, at the conclusion of the TI Summit 2026, which brought together anti-corruption advocates from across the world. Named after the late Amalia Kostanyan, former Chair of Transparency International Armenia, the award is among the organisation’s highest honours,…
Nigeria’s cybercrime legal regime came under renewed scrutiny on Thursday as former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), called for a judicial review of the controversial Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act. The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, pressed for tougher enforcement of the law to combat cybercrime, financial crimes and threats to national security. The three senior legal and security officials spoke at the public presentation of Electronic Evidence, Second Edition (With Evidence Act, 2011) and…
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has faulted the Presidency’s defence of Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the alleged activities of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, insisting that the official explanation raises more questions than it answers. Reacting to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, which absolved Gbajabiamila of any wrongdoing, Dalung argued that the Presidency failed to address how what it now describes as a fictitious presidential agency allegedly operated within government circles without detection. According to him, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing criminal proceedings against Adeyemi, Nigerians deserve a comprehensive…
Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kanu Agabi, yesterday urged the immediate repatriation of billions of dollars allegedly stashed abroad, warning that the present generation would fail in its duty if Nigeria’s looted wealth remained outside the country. Agabi made the call while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of Electronic Evidence, Second Edition (With Evidence Act, 2011) and A Compendium of Cases on Electronic Evidence (Volume II, 2020–2025), authored by retired High Court judge, Hon. Justice (Professor) Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye. The occasion also featured the launch of the Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye Educational…
A bid by the member representing Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopa-Muro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Leke Abejide, to nullify the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark suffered a setback on Thursday as the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed his suit for lacking merit. Justice Musa Liman held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it bordered on the internal affairs of a political party, which are generally not justiciable. The judge further ruled that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, having failed to demonstrate how his legal…
Jibrin Isah Echocho has lost his bid to reclaim the All Progressives Congress senatorial ticket for Kogi East after the party concluded its review of appeals arising from its May primary elections. Echocho, who sought a third consecutive term in the Senate, challenged the outcome of the primary, alleging that the election result was written at the Kogi State Government House rather than reflecting the actual votes cast. Following the primaries, 25 serving APC senators who lost their tickets petitioned the party’s Appeal Committee, citing various irregularities. After reviewing the petitions, the committee reinstated the candidacies of about four senators,…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has appointed actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo as his spokesperson, in a move aimed at strengthening his campaign’s communication strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Okonkwo announced the appointment on Thursday via his official X account, expressing gratitude to Atiku for the confidence reposed in him despite their recent disagreement over the choice of the party’s vice-presidential candidate. “I give God all the glory to be appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his spokesperson. I thank him for the immense confidence reposed in me,” he wrote. He described Atiku as a leader who embraces dialogue…