The Ogun State Police Command has successfully thwarted a planned abduction of a Chinese expatriate, arresting two suspects in connection with an alleged N50 million ransom plot.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, revealing that the suspects were apprehended on Tuesday based on credible intelligence.

According to the police, intelligence reports pointed to a planned kidnapping operation along the Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu Expressway.

Officers from the Obalende Division moved swiftly to the area and intercepted the suspects before they could execute their plan.

Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects had conspired to kidnap the Chinese national and demand a N50 million ransom.

One of the arrested individuals allegedly used his role as an interpreter and driver in the victim’s company to gather information and facilitate the plot.

Police said a third suspect is still at large, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend him while broadening the investigation.

The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further probe.

Reacting to the operation, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers for their professionalism, vigilance, and prompt action, which prevented what could have become a major kidnapping incident.

Ojajuni emphasized the critical role of intelligence and public cooperation in combating crime.

He reassured residents and the business community of the police command’s commitment to proactive, intelligence-driven policing and urged the public to report any suspicious activities promptly.

This intervention highlights ongoing efforts by security agencies to protect expatriates and curb kidnapping threats in the state.

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Rabiu Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has hosted a delegation of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum at his Abuja residence.

Kwankwaso revealed the meeting in a post on X, noting that the elders pledged their support for the proposed Peter Obi/Kwankwaso ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The delegation was led by Dr. S. N. Okeke, Chairman of the Ohanaeze Council of Elders for 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo.

According to Kwankwaso, the elders commended the strengthening partnership between him and Peter Obi within the NDC and assured the movement of electoral backing across the South-East and beyond.

He expressed satisfaction with his collaboration with Obi, reaffirmed his commitment to the OK Movement, and emphasized the party’s determination to secure victory in 2027.

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The House of Representatives has officially named Bayelsa lawmaker Fred Agbedi as its Minority Leader, ending weeks of intense lobbying and consultations among opposition members.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen made the announcement on Thursday at the start of plenary, also confirming Sokoto’s Abdusamad Dasuki as Deputy Minority Leader and Bauchi’s Mansur Manu Soro as Minority Chief Whip.

Agbedi, who represents the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will lead the minority caucus alongside Dasuki of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Soro of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The appointments follow heated disputes over the leadership position, with some lawmakers previously staging protests in the chamber.

Notably, Ikenga Ugochinyere of Imo State and his allies had opposed the process, chanting “No announcement, No sitting” during an earlier session.

With Thursday’s announcement, the House appears to have settled the leadership tussle, paving the way for opposition lawmakers to focus on legislative business under Agbedi’s leadership.

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he resorted to fasting and prayers while battling hypertension in his bid to secure funds for key road projects in Abuja.

Speaking at the commissioning of the newly constructed Airport Expressway to Kuje road, inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Wike recounted the challenges faced in completing the project.

He explained that persistent funding requests to contractors often left him stressed, saying: “Each time I call, my BP goes high.

“When they request money, my BP also goes high. I don’t use to fast before, but I started fasting from morning till night because of this particular road.”

Wike assured that the administration remains committed to further infrastructure development, including the dualization of the Kuje–Gwagwalada road, stressing that God’s guidance and determination would see the projects through.

He praised Arab Contractors for their resilience despite health challenges faced by its managing director, while reaffirming his dedication to accountability and service delivery in the FCT.

The commissioning formed part of events marking President Tinubu’s third year in office.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has issued a stern warning to front-end enrolment partners of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), stating that involvement in fraudulent National Identification Number (NIN) registrations could result in a seven-year prison sentence upon conviction.

The warning was delivered on Thursday in Abuja during a security briefing organised by NIMC for its enrolment partners in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other security agencies.

Assistant Director at the ICPC, Mark Faison, emphasised that enrolment agents must strictly adhere to the terms of their engagement, describing any deviation as an abuse of office and an act of corruption.

“If you abuse the privilege you have been given, that amounts to abuse of office because you are operating on behalf of NIMC to register Nigerians. And if you do otherwise, you are abusing the trust that has been placed in you, and you will be punished for it if you are caught,” Faison said.

He added: “Seven years’ imprisonment is the punishment for that kind of offence. So I urge you, please, for the sake of the safety of our country, do the little you can do in your own corner.”

Faison particularly flagged the registration of non-Nigerians as citizens, noting that such actions constitute a serious national security threat.

He revealed that security agencies have arrested individuals who obtained NINs through some enrolment centres only to be discovered as foreigners by immigration officers.

The NIMC Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, explained that the briefing was necessary due to the expanding role of digital identity in government services, finance, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and social interventions.

She stressed the need for stronger security controls and system integrity, warning that only NIMC-approved and certified software would be permitted in the ecosystem.

The commission plans to intensify audits of enrolment partners to prevent data leakages and ensure compliance.

Other speakers, including NIMC’s Head of IT and Identity Data Department, Suleiman Falade, and a representative from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Kayode Oni, reinforced the call for diligence, warning that violations would attract sanctions.

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Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) plans to deploy approximately 4.4 million polling unit officials as part of its strategy to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a recent party event, Governor Uzodinma emphasised the ruling party’s commitment to mobilising a massive grassroots structure to ensure victory at the polls.

He described the deployment as a key component of the APC’s preparation to dominate every polling unit across the country.

The announcement underscores the APC’s early and aggressive positioning ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

With Nigeria’s electoral system requiring officials and agents at hundreds of thousands of polling units nationwide, the figure of 4.4 million suggests an ambitious plan that includes core party officials, ad-hoc staff, and reserve agents to guarantee strong representation and minimise any potential gaps on election day.

Political observers note that such large-scale mobilisation is typical for major parties in Nigerian elections, where ground-level presence often plays a decisive role in voter turnout and result management.

However, critics may view the early declaration as a sign of over-confidence or an attempt to psychologically dominate the political space well before the official campaign period.

Further details on the exact breakdown of the 4.4 million figure or the timeline for training and deployment of these officials isn’t yet ascertained.

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The 12th Prosecution Witness (PW12) Christopher Odofin, in the ongoing trial of the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday, told Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory, High Court, Abuja, how Sirika allegedly passed off an aircraft belonging to Ethiopian Airline as that of the promised Nigeria Air by the government of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The decoy aircraft, adorned with the livery of the promised Nigeria Air, found its way on the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on May 27, 2023, being three days to the expiration of the tenure of the Buhari government and was flown back to Addis Ababa in the morning of May 29, 2023, being the handover date to the successor government.

Hadi Sirika is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on amended six-count, bordering on alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over N2 billion.

He is being tried alongside his daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika, son-in-law, Hamma Jalal Sule, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.

The contract for the setting up of Nigeria Air was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited, belonging to Gabriel Tilmann, a close associate and friend of the former minister.

Reading from a portion of contract agreement with Ethiopian Airline, the witness, an investigator with the EFCC said, “The aircraft will depart from Addis Ababa (ADD) late evening of May 26, 2023 for it to be positioned early morning of May 27, 2023 at the Abuja (ABV) airport.

“The aircraft will stay in ABV airport for static display of Nigeria Air livery until May 28, 2023. The aircraft will leave ABV airport early morning on May, 29, 2023. The chartered flight will be operated by the Ethiopian Airline crew in Ethiopian Airline uniform.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigeria Air may put together local models who will be in Nigeria Air uniforms to pose for ceremonial pictures. The models may come to Addis Ababa so they may fly with the chartered flight to ABV.”

The witness told the court that the display of the aircraft in Abuja International Airport was deliberately planned to coincide with the end of the first defendant’s tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development on May 29, 2023 and to pass the aircraft off as the actualization of his promise of the return of Nigeria Air.

After the less than 72 hours display of the aircraft, he stated that the Nigeria Air logo was removed from the aircraft and flown back to Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa.

The witness further disclosed that the investigating team was also able to ascertain that Ethiopian Airlines entered into a charter arrangement for the static display of the Nigeria Air livery for a duration of just three days, beginning from May 27 to May 29, 2023 based on information and documents received from the airline following a letter from it, dated June 12, 2023, in response to the EFCC’s request for information regarding Nigeria Air.

Though the purpose of the contract was for the establishment of Nigeria Air, the charter agreement with Ethiopian Airlines was entered on May 24, 2023, five days to the expiration of the defendant’s tenure for just a static display of the Nigeria Air logo on an aircraft.

All the documents tendered in evidence by the prosecution were shown to have been duly signed, authorized, and accompanied by certificates of identification and were not objected to by any of the counsels to the four defendants.

Among the exhibits is a compact disk containing a voice note from the first defendant, Hadi Sirika, marked Exhibit 37, which the prosecution counsel applied to be played in the court at the next adjourned date.

Further in his testimony, the witness told the court told that though the contract for the start-up of Nigeria Air, which was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited for over N299 million on April 4, 2022, saw a contract extension award to the company on October 17, 2022, to a sum, exceeding N599 million on the instructions and directives of the first defendant, based on his relationship with the company’s alter ego.

According to him, “The investigating team arrived at this position when the phone of one Enitan Muyiwa Abel, who was a Permanent Secretary in the first defendant’s ministry was analysed, showing a voice note sent to the Permanent Secretary while the first defendant was in Spain instructing him to ensure that the contract was awarded to Tianaero Nigeria Limited.”

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till next week June 17, 2026 for the continuation of the trial.

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Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has given political appointees in his administration a stark choice: defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or resign their positions immediately.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, the government directed all political office holders who have declared allegiance to or defected to other political parties to submit their resignation letters to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government within 48 hours.

The directive aims to maintain loyalty, discipline, and the integrity of public service. According to the statement, appointees are expected to fully support the policies, programmes, and political direction of the current administration.

“Continued service by persons who have aligned with another party poses a clear risk of sabotage, information leakage, and obstruction of policy implementation and party strategy,” the statement read.

It further warned that failure to comply within the stipulated time would lead to immediate termination of appointments, stoppage of salaries and entitlements, and additional administrative actions.

The Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service have been tasked with compiling a list of affected appointees for monitoring.

The move comes after Governor Fintiri defected to the APC, while many of his appointees remained in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or joined other parties, reportedly working against the APC in the state.

Governor Fintiri emphasised that public office is held in trust and must align with the vision and mandate of the administration, adding that divided loyalty would not be tolerated.

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The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, for repeatedly failing to appear before it to explain allegations of N210 trillion in unaccounted funds between 2017 and 2023.

The directive was issued on Wednesday during an investigative hearing into queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding the company’s financial records for the period under review.

Kyari’s absence prompted the committee to rule against further delays, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest and production before the panel.

During the sitting, some senators, including Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), appealed for caution, noting that Kyari was reportedly ill and receiving treatment in Germany. They urged the committee to grant him another opportunity to appear.

However, other members strongly opposed the plea. Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that verbal excuses were unacceptable without documented proof, while Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) formally moved the motion for Kyari’s arrest.

The motion was seconded by Deputy Chairman Senator Peter Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North).

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) also backed the decision, warning that the Senate risked diminishing its authority if it failed to enforce compliance with its summons.

“Some people believe they are bigger than Nigeria. The law must be effective when it catches the lion, not only when it catches the rabbit,” he said.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe North), subsequently ruled that Kyari should be arrested wherever he is and brought before the committee.

At the centre of the probe are alleged financial discrepancies totalling N210 trillion flagged in NNPCL’s accounts. However, the former Chief Financial Officer of the NNPCL, Umar Isa, who appeared before the committee, challenged the figure, describing it as misleading.

Isa insisted that no funds were missing and noted that NNPCL’s total revenue for the period was about ₦54.5 trillion before production costs.

He argued that publishing audited accounts would have been impossible if such a massive sum had disappeared.

The committee directed Isa and former Chief Upstream Investment Officer Bala Wunti to reappear before it within two weeks as the investigation continues.

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