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EFCC Unveils New Strategy To Tackle Looting And Financial Crimes

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EFCC Unveils New Strategy To Tackle Looting And Financial Crimes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has formally changed its strategy in the war against financial crimes from tracing stolen funds after the event to blocking suspicious transactions just before the money disappears.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ola Olukoyede, on Monday in Abuja during an interactive session with newsmen to mark his third year at the helm of the commission.

Rather than allow complex criminal cases to take years to resolve while assets disappear, the EFCC boss said the agency has set up a special unit, called the Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department (FRAC), to track, flag and freeze suspicious accounts within 72 hours.

Olukoyede, explaining the reason for the sudden change in approach, asked why it is always the public purse that is emptied before action is taken.

“Why do we have to be waiting for money to be stolen? We intervene and freeze when we see suspicious money flows. He asked: “We ask where is this money going, pending 72 hours?”

He pointed to examples of public funds being rapidly wired from local government accounts to corporate accounts, only to land in cryptocurrency wallets within 24 hours.

Olukoyede regretted that corrupt public officials in the country now recruit young tech-savvy persons to convert the looted public funds into virtual assets, making recovery difficult.

“With the push of a button, you can collapse the entire banking industry in Nigeria. “The problem with most of the data that we are looking at now is that there are no physical assets that you can trace to it,” he said.

In a bid to stem the rising trend of virtual asset laundering, Olukoyede disclosed that approximately 40 digital asset platforms have been licensed in Nigeria and that the EFCC now possesses the technical ability to trace registered wallets.

Additionally, the commission, with presidential consent, worked with security agencies to create a national confiscation wallet for all seized cryptocurrencies.

“One of the issues we used to have was where do you put the confiscated virtual assets? We have a national wallet that we put them into today,” Olukoyede added.

On legal tactics, the EFCC boss said the agency is focusing on civil asset forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, rather than getting itself entangled in endless criminal litigation.

“This is swifter and quicker than a criminal trial. “We don’t have to wait 10, 15 years when witnesses die and assets are dissipated,” he said.

Read Also: Troops Rescue Abducted NYSC Members And Six Others In Kogi

Under the civil forfeiture process, the commission files a direct suit against the suspicious asset itself, shifting the burden of proof to anyone claiming ownership to explain the genuine source of the money used to acquire it. “This strategy has already delivered huge results in a number of high-profile cases involving former public officeholders,” he added.

To clear the air on the handling of seized items, Olukoyede stressed that the commission no longer directly manages forfeited properties, strictly adhering to the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2022.

Instead, a dedicated Process and Proceeds Management (PCM) directorate now assigns experts, estate managers for real estate, stock market professionals for financial assets and broadcast experts for media outfits, to run the properties efficiently.

He also said that properties that are rapidly depreciating and are caught up in court litigation are being auctioned off and the proceeds are being deposited into secure escrow accounts pending final judicial determination.

The EFCC boss confirmed that new management teams have taken over high-profile hotels recently forfeited in Lagos and that commercial banks have been directed to remit all operational income directly to the commission.

Olukoyede ended with an appeal to the media and civil society organizations to return to their role as active watchdogs, emphasizing that institutional reforms and systemic leak-blocking are far more effective than law enforcement alone.

“Law enforcement is not the most effective system. “It is the policy regime, institutional reforms that plug leakages,” the EFCC Chairman said.

Troops Rescue Abducted NYSC Members And Six Others In Kogi

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Troops Rescue Abducted NYSC Members And Six Others In Kogi

In Kogi State, the Nigerian military rescued 21 kidnaped victims, including 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

The Director, Defense Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this, it was learnt.

“Twenty-one victims, eight males and 13 females, were rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest,” Onoja said.

He added that the military will continue to rescue the residents abducted in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria is also pleased to inform the general public that a total of 21 victims comprising of eight males and 13 females, 15 of whom are members of the National Youth Service Corps have just been rescued within the Egume and Ochaja forest stretch in 2 Division area of operation,” he added.

The spokesperson added that military formations had continued to work with other security agencies and state government institutions through intelligence sharing and identification of areas in need of security intervention.

He said: “The recent rescue of 308 abducted persons, mostly women and children, from Kainji Lake National Park on August 5 and subsequent operations to deny terrorists freedom of movement within Borgu axis show commitment and capability of security forces to locate, rescue and safely return affected citizens.

Troops will continue to put pressure on terrorists operating within and around the Kainji Lake National Park and other identified corridors, he said.

He said this was being done to prevent further incursions and to create conditions for the return of displaced residents to their communities.

“the Armed Forces, therefore, assures the people of Borgu and their communities that military operations against terrorists and criminals will be sustained in the local government area and its environs to ensure the safety of the community,” Onoja said.

He called on the families of abducted persons to remain calm and not take any action that could jeopardize rescue operations, pointing out that credible information was critical to the efforts of the military.

“We recognize the anxiety, pain and uncertainty that accompany the loss or affliction of family members and friends to the families of the victims and all persons affected by the heinous activities of terrorists and criminals.

“We would like to encourage everyone to remain calm and to have faith in the ongoing efforts of the military and other security agencies to resolve the situation, and to refrain from any action that could jeopardize rescue or recovery efforts,” he said.

African Union Calls For Urgent Action On Conflict Resolution

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African Union Calls For Urgent Action On Conflict Resolution

The Luanda Declaration, read by African Union Chairperson Évariste Ndayishimiye, said governments must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action to prevent and resolve conflicts.

The Luanda summit reaffirmed that sustainable peace must be supported by African resources and that cooperation with international partners should respect sovereignty and African-led solutions.

The African Peace Fund will mobilize resources for African-led peace and security efforts through a more predictable, member-funded, financing.

The AU Peace Fund, which was established in 1993, is the Union’s main financing instrument for peace operations, mediation and institutional capacity.

The fund has long suffered from a lack of financing and has depended on external donors, resulting in repeated calls for greater African ownership.

The extraordinary summit identified terrorism, violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, political crises, cyber dangers and geopolitical rivalries as the key challenges to stability on the continent.

The declaration underscored accountability across AU mechanisms, including the Peace and Security Council, and the need for political will to ensure that decisions by heads of state lead to results.

It also highlighted the value of involving women and youth in peace processes and called for enhanced protection of children affected by conflicts.

Tinubu: It’s Shameful For President To Try To Hide Records Of His Past – Obi

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Tinubu: It’s Shameful For President To Try To Hide Records Of His Past – Obi

The Nigerian Government, through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), has commissioned a Strategic Animal Resting Facility at Jaba-Jaba in Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State to enhance quarantine services, animal health surveillance and safe movement of livestock along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

The facility was commissioned by the Minister for Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha and the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Kaletapwa Farauta, during the Minister’s working visit to L-PRES intervention sites in the state.

The facility is strategically located along the Nigeria-Cameroon border corridor and serves as an organized point for the temporary holding, inspection and submission of livestock in transit to appropriate animal health and quarantine procedures before onward movement.

The intervention is particularly important in improving Nigeria’s capacity to prevent and control transboundary animal diseases, and improve disease surveillance, biosecurity and monitoring of livestock movement across the international border.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister said, “the facility is another key investment by the Federal Government in building a modern and resilient livestock sector, particularly through stronger animal health and quarantine systems.

Read Also: FG Launches Livestock Facility To Strengthen Animal Health Services

“Effective surveillance along border livestock corridors is critical to protect Nigeria’s livestock population, safeguarding public health and facilitating safer livestock trade between Nigeria and neighboring countries,” said Maiha.

The Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Kaletapwa Farauta, praised the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the World Bank and L-PRES for the investment, saying it was “an important contribution to the development of the livestock sector in Adamawa State.”

The government remains committed to interventions in productivity, animal health, food security and the livelihoods of livestock producers throughout the state.

“The Jaba-Jaba facility is part of the strategic investments of the Project in strengthening the livestock health infrastructure and improving the management of animal movement along the major border corridors,” he said. Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator of L-PRES.

He said the facility should be effectively utilized and managed in a sustainable manner to ensure that livestock producers, traders, veterinary authorities and border communities derive maximum benefits from the investment.

The Jaba-Jaba Strategic Animal Resting Facility is one of the wider L-PRES interventions to modernize Nigeria’s livestock sector through improved animal health services, improved disease surveillance, improved biosecurity and investments that support safer and more productive livestock value chains.

This is the latest in a series of recent commissioning of new facilities, following the inauguration of a similar L-PRES Strategic Animal Holding Facility at the Etung-Ikom border corridor in Cross River State, another key international livestock corridor between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The two facilities are part of L-PRES investments to better quarantine operations, disease surveillance, biosecurity and safer cross-border livestock movement at strategic entry points across the country.

FG Launches Livestock Facility To Strengthen Animal Health Services

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FG Launches Livestock Facility To Strengthen Animal Health Services

The Nigerian Government has commissioned a Strategic Animal Resting Facility at Jaba-Jaba in Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State, through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), to strengthen quarantine services, animal health surveillance and the safe movement of livestock along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

The facility was commissioned by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Kaletapwa Farauta, during the Minister’s working visit to L-PRES intervention sites in the state.

It is strategically located along the Nigeria-Cameroon border corridor, providing an organized point where livestock in transit can be temporarily held, inspected and subjected to appropriate animal health and quarantine procedures before onward movement.

The intervention is very critical in enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to prevent and control transboundary animal diseases, enhancing disease surveillance, biosecurity and monitoring of livestock movement across the international border.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister said; “the facility is another significant investment by the Federal Government in building a modern and resilient livestock sector, especially through improved animal health and quarantine systems.”

“Effective surveillance along border livestock corridors is critical to protecting Nigeria’s livestock population, safeguarding public health and facilitating safer livestock trade between Nigeria and neighboring countries,” Maiha said.

Kaletapwa Farauta, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State commended the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the World Bank and L-PRES for the investment, calling it “an important contribution to the development of the livestock sector in Adamawa State.”

She reiterated the government’s commitment to interventions in productivity, animal health, food security and the livelihoods of livestock producers across the state.

The National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Sanusi Abubakar, said; “the Jaba-Jaba facility is part of the Project’s strategic investments to strengthen livestock health infrastructure and improve the management of animal movement along the major border corridors.”

He highlighted the need for the facility to be fully utilized and managed sustainably to ensure maximum benefit for livestock producers, traders, veterinary authorities and border communities from the investment.

The Jaba-Jaba Strategic Animal Resting Facility is one of the wider L-PRES interventions aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s livestock sector through improved animal health services, stronger disease surveillance, enhanced biosecurity and investments that support safer and more productive livestock value chains.

This Jaba-Jaba facility comes after the recent commissioning of a comparable L-PRES Strategic Animal Holding Facility at the Etung-Ikom border corridor in Cross River State, another key international livestock route between Nigeria and Cameroon.

The two facilities make part of L-PRES investments to beef up quarantine operations, disease surveillance, biosecurity and safer cross-border livestock movement at strategic entry points across the country.

Minister Explains Why Tinubu’s Reforms Are Necessary For Nigeria’s Stability

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Minister Explains Why Tinubu’s Reforms Are Necessary For Nigeria’s Stability

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda as necessary to secure Nigeria’s long-term stability.

He said the government must ensure that the gains from the reforms translate into improved infrastructure, stronger public services and better living conditions for Nigerians.

Speaking at the maiden Bashir Adamu Chedi Annual Memorial Lecture and the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Kaduna State Chapter, Idris described the removal of petrol subsidy as a “difficult but necessary” decision to end an unsustainable regime that had drained public resources for decades.

“The responsibility of government is therefore to ensure that the gains from reform translate increasingly into better infrastructure, stronger public services, greater economic opportunity and improved living conditions,” he said.

The lecture, themed “Bridging Generations: Strengthening Public Relations Through Mentorship,” was instituted in honour of the late Mallam Bashir Adamu Chedi, a former Secretary and Chairman of the Kaduna Chapter, Governing Council member, and Fellow of the Institute.

Idris called on public relations practitioners to bridge generational gaps through mentorship and to uphold truth and integrity amid the rise of artificial intelligence and misinformation.

“His greatest legacy was not the positions he occupied. It was the people he influenced, the younger practitioners he encouraged and the professional values he represented,” Idris said.

The Minister warned that technology is reshaping communication, with social media turning everyone into a publisher and AI enabling the rapid creation of fabricated images, cloned voices, and manipulated videos.

“In this environment, public relations cannot simply be about publicity. Our real business is trust.

“Technology will change. Platforms will come and go. Artificial Intelligence will become more sophisticated.

“But the foundations of our profession must remain: truth, credibility, integrity, responsibility and respect for the public,” Idris said.

He urged senior practitioners to guide younger professionals, and younger practitioners to value experience while introducing new ideas.

“Young practitioners must not dismiss experience as outdated, and senior practitioners must not regard innovation as a threat.

“Bridging generations means bringing these strengths together,” Idris stated.

The Minister of Information linked restoring public trust in government communication to the Tinubu administration’s policy direction.

He highlighted the federal government’s push for Compressed Natural Gas as a cheaper, cleaner transport alternative, and ongoing efforts to strengthen security agencies against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Idris also spoke on the national conversation around state policing.

“Nigeria’s security architecture must evolve with its realities.

Read Also: Tinubu To Remain Fully Engaged During Europe Holiday

“Bringing policing closer to communities can strengthen intelligence and improve response to local threats,” he said.

With another electoral cycle approaching, the Minister cautioned PR professionals against spreading falsehoods for political convenience.

“We must verify before we communicate and defend professional ethics regardless of who employs us.

“We must explain without deceiving, persuade without manipulating, correct misinformation without suppressing legitimate disagreement,” he elaborated.

Idris described Chedi as a friend and colleague whose professional values should guide the Institute.

He prayed for the repose of Chedi’s soul and commended the Kaduna Chapter for establishing the annual lecture.

“May it grow into a national platform for mentorship, professional reflection and the advancement of ethical public relations practice.

“May the life of Mallam Bashir Adamu Chedi continue to remind us that our most enduring legacy is often not what we achieve for ourselves, but what we deposit in others,” Idris said.

The AGM brought together senior and junior members of NIPR to review the chapter’s activities and chart a new course for the profession in the state.

Tinubu To Remain Fully Engaged During Europe Holiday

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Tinubu To Remain Fully Engaged During Europe Holiday

The Presidency says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain fully involved with state matters and get critical briefings during his three weeks working vacation in Europe.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr Sunday Dare, said this when he spoke with State House Correspondents on Sunday evening shortly after the President left Nigeria for London.

Several months of sustained engagement with the affairs of the country, including major decisions on security, the economy and other aspects of governance had preceded the President’s vacation, Mr Dare said.

“The President is on a well-deserved leave,” said Dare.

He said the period would also give the President a chance to be more prepared ahead of the months of intense political activities, even as governance and other responsibilities of the administration continue.

The Presidential aide said that the vacation would not prevent President Tinubu from attending to important national issues, as communication with key government officials would continue throughout the period.

“He’ll be involved in state affairs day in and day out,” Dare said.

The President would continue to be briefed by ministers, Service Chiefs and other officials responsible for critical national responsibilities and decisions, he said.

President Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for Europe where he will undertake a three-week working vacation as part of his annual leave. The President is likely to stay in touch with appropriate government officials while abroad.

The President is expected to be back in Nigeria at the end of his three-week working holiday.

Ogun 2027: Tension Builds as Hunye and Adeola Vie for APC Ticket

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Ogun 2027: Tension Builds as Hunye and Adeola Vie for APC Ticket

A former governorship aspirant, Abayomi Semako Hunye, on Saturday, August 22, made a dramatic turn for the political space of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ogun State chapter as he unveiled his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

The immediate past Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA, Hunye, at a press conference announced his deputy governorship candidate under the umbrella of the APC as Abayomi Odunowo, dismissing the rumor that he has stepped down from the race.

Recall that the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, announced Olamilekan Solomon Adeola as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state during a strategic caucus meeting attended by party leaders and stakeholders on April 13.

All the three former governors – Olusegun Osoba, Ibikunle Amosun and Gbenga Daniel – were at the meeting along with APC governorship aspirants – Iyabo Obasanjo, Gboyega Isiaka, Tunde Lemo and Isiak Akinlade.

Hunye, a politician of Yewa extraction like Adeola, did not attend the caucus meeting.

Governor Abiodun, in his speech, said, “Nothing will give me more joy than to fulfil all the dreams of my predecessors and ensure that the West produces the next governor. I look forward to the night before my departure from office, when I will sit with those who will attend the ceremony of my successor.

“I will also sit proudly with all my former governors at the swearing-in of a new APC governor.

“On that note, permit me to unveil the person we have all agreed is truly deserving of being the next flag bearer of our dear state, Senator Solomon Adeola.”

Two weeks later, Hunye, who is also a former commissioner, went against the consensus arrangement and obtained the governorship nomination form.

The N50 million form was obtained on his behalf by a third party in Abuja.

However, during the governorship primary held in May, the chairman of the Ogun State Governorship Electoral Committee, Wale Ohu, announced that Adeola secured 304,055 votes out of the 305,287 accredited voters who participated in the exercise.

Ohu said Adeola’s only challenger, Abayomi Semako Hunye, polled no votes in the primary conducted across the state’s 20 local government areas.

Adeola appreciated former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, and the incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for the roles they played in facilitating his emergence as the party’s consensus candidate.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations pledged not to take his emergence for granted, assuring party members and the people of Ogun State that he would consolidate on the developmental strides of the current administration while taking the state to greater heights.

Two months after the endorsement of Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, the party also announced Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun as the deputy governorship candidate.

Hunye Camp Rejects Result, Claims Victory With 453,765 Votes
Reacting to the outcome of the primary election, the campaign organisation of Hunye rejected the result, insisting that it did not reflect the true wishes of participating party members.

In a rejoinder issued on behalf of the Abayomi Semako Hunye Campaign and Supporters’ Movement, the group described the declaration of Adeola as unacceptable and inconsistent with reports allegedly obtained from its agents across the 236 wards in Ogun State.

According to the statement, information collated by its party representatives indicated that Hunye secured 453,765 votes, as against the 304,055 votes announced for Senator Adeola.

They maintained that the figures publicly released in favour of Adeola could not be regarded as conclusive proof of a free, fair, credible or uncontested democratic exercise.

It stressed that Hunye was a duly screened, cleared and recognised aspirant of the APC before the conduct of the governorship primary election.

It was reported that Hunye later dragged the party and Adeola to court to nullify the primary election, citing widespread irregularities and the disenfranchisement of his supporters after he was allocated zero votes.

Hunye, however, has unveiled his running mate, insisting that the matter was not settled and that he was still in the race.

It was reported that while intra-party rivalries frequently spill into the courtroom, the legal boundaries governing candidate disputes have tightened significantly under recent legislative alterations.

Under Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party member seeking to challenge a primary election outcome must first satisfy the requirement of locus standi by demonstrating full, physical participation as an aspirant.

Furthermore, even where procedural flaws are established in court, Section 285(13) of the 1999 Constitution (Fourth Alteration) explicitly limits judicial remedies.

The constitutional provision strictly dictates that no election tribunal or court shall, under any circumstance, declare a person a winner if they did not participate in every stage of the electoral process.

According to Hunye, his decision followed these provisions in the amended Electoral Act.

He said, “I looked at the new amended constitution. It said, no court will oblige any candidate or aspirant that is challenging any candidate in court that refuses to participate in the process. The first process was the primary and the second process starting on the 9th of September is the campaign.

“So if you are sure that you are actually a candidate or, in turn, you have gone to court, you must also participate in the next phase of the election process.

“And to this note, so that at the end of the day, nobody will get to the court and say, yes, he is qualified, he met all the criteria. But one thing, there was no evidence of campaigning.”

Adeola Remains APC Governorship Candidate for Ogun — Party Reacts
Chairman of the APC, Ogun chapter, Yemi Sanusi, on Sunday issued a disclaimer, maintaining that Adeola remained the duly recognised candidate of the party ahead of the 2027 election.

Sanusi stated that the names of Senator Adeola and Mrs Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun had subsequently been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s governorship candidate and running mate for the 2027 election.

The party dissociated itself from any contrary claim or declaration by Hunye or any other individual purporting to be the party’s governorship candidate.

He said, “The attention of the Ogun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to statements and claims by one Abayomi Semako Hunye, who has been presenting himself as the governorship candidate of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun State APC wishes to state clearly that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, is the duly recognised governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State for the 2027 election.”

“We urge party members, supporters and the general public to disregard such claims and rely only on official communications from the Ogun State APC and the relevant electoral authorities,” he added.

Responding to the party, Hunye said he never declared himself the APC governorship candidate, noting that his position had consistently been clear and that the matter remained before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He argued that the issues surrounding the emergence of the party’s governorship candidate were still subject to judicial determination.

According to him, the law is clear that parties involved in disputes must allow the judicial process to run its full course and that, until the court delivers its judgment and the matter is conclusively resolved in accordance with the law, no individual or group should seek to pre-empt, influence or substitute public opinion for the decision of the court.

“Therefore, the contest over the emergence of the APC Governorship Candidate in Ogun State cannot be regarded as conclusively settled while the relevant legal proceedings remain pending.

“The battle for the ticket, in legal terms, is not over until the court has spoken and the legal process has been concluded,” he stated.

Hunye Is Not Our Member, He’s an Impostor — APC National Body
Meanwhile, the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru has described Hunye as an impostor, adding that he was currently on suspension as a member of the APC.

According to the APC, Hunye was suspended from the party on April 7, 2026, for engaging in activities injurious to the party’s image, anti-party activities and deliberate actions aimed at causing disaffection and division among loyal members.

Basiru stated that the suspension followed a petition from his ward, Tube Ward, in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state, ratified by the Ipokia Local Government Area and formally approved by the Ogun State Working Committee.

He added that the suspension was communicated to the national headquarters of the party.

“His recent self-declaration as the governorship candidate of our party for the 2027 election is completely false, unauthorised and a mischievous act aimed at misleading the public.

“Consequently, he lacks the legal and moral standing to represent the APC in any capacity. We reiterate that, following the validly conducted primary election of the APC, the duly nominated and elected governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election is Senator Adeola Olamilekan, with his running mate being Balogun Abiodun.

“This is in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,” the APC National Secretary said.

Hunye Challenges APC Over Alleged Suspension, Questions Participation in Primary
The parallel guber candidate, Hunye, challenged the party to explain what he described as contradictions surrounding its claim that he was suspended on April 7, 2026.

He argued that the announcement was part of efforts to undermine his legal challenge to the outcome of the party’s governorship primary.

According to him, he was never formally notified of any disciplinary action and the party failed to follow due process before announcing the suspension.

“If they say they have suspended me, I have not received any letter. No letter was sent to me, and before you suspend anybody, there must be a panel.

“You must let me know what I’ve done. Then there will be a committee that will be sent out to look at that,” he stated.

He opined that the suspension information might not have represented a properly ratified decision of the party’s National Working Committee.

“I’m not sure that information is right. I want to believe that it wasn’t a decision of the National Working Committee,” he said.

Hunye said his decision was to publicly clarify his position following reports that he had withdrawn from the governorship contest after an alleged settlement had been reached, insisting that the matter remained before the court and that no candidate could be regarded as finally determined until judgment was delivered.

“Ogun State candidature for the governorship election is still hanging at the court. The court is going to determine who becomes the candidate and the case is still on. That’s exactly what I said on Saturday, and there is a way to verify the information that I got.

“I was told that I have stepped down and that they have settled me and things like that. That is why I came up to tell everybody that the case is still in court and until that judgment is delivered, no candidate is decided.

“Whatever the APC likes, let them do. They are trying to intimidate me so that I can drop the case, and I will not.”

“If I was suspended in April, I came to the national party secretariat, got a form there on 28th of April,” he said.

According to him, the party sold him the governorship nomination form, collected the required payment and subsequently allowed him to participate in the screening process.

Hunye said he was screened and cleared alongside other aspirants, arguing that the party’s actions at the time contradicted the later claim that he was already suspended.

“They collected money and gave me a form. On the 15th again, I went for screening. You screened me.

“And at the end of the day, you cleared me that I’m successful. And then, even in the midst of all the successful candidates, I was cleared.

“My number was 62 and Yayi’s number was 53, and there were some there that were disqualified,” Hunye stated.

He maintained that there was no withdrawal from the contest in his name and that he participated in the governorship primary.

According to him, the unexplained zero recorded against his name, despite being physically present and participating in the primary, was one of the central issues behind his legal challenge.

“I was not in the police station. I was not in the hospital. How will I pay 50 million naira for something, and I will be absent there? And how would they now record zero against my name?” He queried.

He said the questions being raised in court relate to information contained in Adeola’s electoral forms and his political history, particularly his years of public service in Lagos State.

“There are so many issues. In all that he filled, he was serving in Lagos State as an assembly member.

“He served for eight years as an assembly member in Lagos State. House of Assembly in Lagos State. Eight years as a House of Rep also in Lagos State. Four years in the House of Senate in the same Lagos State,” Hunye said.

He said Adeola had spent about 23 years in public office and that his records across different elections formed part of the questions being raised before the court.

Hunye, however, insisted that the party’s leadership could not simply push him out of the APC after his years of involvement in its political struggles.

“There is no way the APC, the so-called leaders, as I’m saying this… they can’t take us away from this party,” he added.

When asked whether he would support Adeola if the court ruled against him, Hunye responded: “Why not? But if it rules in my favour, I’m going to embrace everybody.”

APC Seeks Arrest, Prosecution of Hunye
Shortly after, the party petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, demanding the investigation, arrest and prosecution of Hunye.

The ruling party stated that Hunye had impersonated and declared himself as the governorship candidate in Ogun State.

It insisted that Adeola remained the authentic and only governorship candidate of the party, having participated in the consensus primary of the party held on May 22, 2026.

The petition, dated August 24, addressed to the IGP and signed by the Director of Administration, Ayoola Olajolo, urged the police to restrain him from further parading himself as a candidate to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in Ogun State.

The petition read: “I write to bring to your urgent attention a grave threat to public peace and electoral integrity involving one Mr. Abayomi Hunye (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Subject’).

“The Subject has notoriously and unlawfully taken to the public domain, including print and social media, parading himself as the governorship candidate of our party for the forthcoming January 2027 election.

“I wish to state unequivocally that this claim is false, fraudulent and a deliberate act of impersonation designed to mislead the public and destabilise the peace of Ogun State.”

It added: “In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully pray that you use your good office to direct the immediate intervention of the Nigeria Police Force to: Invite Mr. Abayomi Hunye for immediate questioning regarding the aforementioned infringements and probable commission of offences against Nigerian laws.

“Cause him to be prosecuted after investigation for impersonation, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and violation of the Electoral Act, 2026.

“Restrain him from further parading himself as a candidate to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in Ogun State.

“I pledge the full cooperation of the APC national headquarters and the Ogun State chapter of our party with the police during the investigation and am ready to prov

Gunmen Demand N20m Each for Abducted NYSC Members in Kogi

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Gunmen Demand N20m Each for Abducted NYSC Members in Kogi

Gunmen who abducted members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC have reportedly demanded N20 million ransom each for the victims in captivity.

The abducted NYSC members were part of the 15 members of the scheme who were traveling from Bayelsa State to Abuja after the three weeks orientation exercise when they were abducted along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“The kidnappers had gotten in touch with relatives and told them the ransom demand,” a family member of one of the victims said.

“One of our daughters was abducted on her way from Bayelsa State to Abuja after completing the three-week orientation camp. “The kidnappers are asking for N20 million ransom,” the source said.

Read Also: Nigeria’s remittances hit record $947m, near $1bn CBN target

The development comes days after the Kogi State Police Command spokesperson ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, confirmed the abduction of passengers including NYSC members along the route.

Police said 11 abductees including the drivers of the two vehicles were rescued during a joint security operation, and efforts were under way to track and rescue those still held by the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, families of some of the victims have called on the Federal Government, NYSC management and security agencies to do more in securing the release of the remaining corps members and other passengers in captivity.

Nigeria’s remittances hit record $947m, near $1bn CBN target

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Nigeria’s remittances hit record $947m, near $1bn CBN target

Nigeria’s remittance inflows through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) grew to a record $947 million in July 2026, edging the country closer to the $1 billion monthly target set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The July inflow is the highest monthly remittance recorded through formal channels and pushed total IMTO inflows in the first seven months of 2026 to $3.8 billion.

The figure is 50.2 percent higher than the amount recorded during the same period in 2025, showing a significant rise in remittances coming through formal channels.

Reacting to the development, CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the latest figures showed that the target set nearly two years ago was now in sight.

“When we made a clear ambition to reach US$1 billion a month in remittance inflows through formal channels almost two years ago, some people thought we were dreaming. “We are now approaching that milestone, which was US$947 million in July,” Cardoso said.

The increase comes after a series of reforms introduced by the apex bank to make the formal remittance channels more competitive, transparent and accessible.

The reforms include the move to a more market-determined exchange rate, changes to the regulatory framework for IMTOs and the introduction of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN).

The CBN has also ramped up its engagement with IMTOs, banks and Nigerian diaspora communities, and recently ordered remittance transactions to be routed through designated settlement accounts with authorized dealer banks.

The increase in formal remittance inflows is more than the headline figures, as more diaspora funds help boost foreign exchange liquidity and transparency, and support households and investment, says the apex bank.

The development, the CBN said, also strengthens the country’s external financing position and reflects the growing impact of reforms targeted at formalizing remittance flows.

Cardoso said the bank would continue to deepen its engagement with the Nigerian diaspora communities and financial sector partners across key remittance corridors.

He said the CBN would use engagements in major global financial centers to work with diaspora communities, IMTOs, banks and other stakeholders in an effort to remove bottlenecks and encourage more remittance flows through formal channels.

“July is a significant milestone, but we’re not focused on one month. It is on creating conditions for sustained growth in formal remittances.

The CBN governor added, “We expect to continue to see improvement and have confidence that Nigeria can achieve and ultimately sustain monthly inflows above US$1 billion.

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