Television Nigerian

The Edo State House of Assembly ad hoc committee that is looking into the ownership and funding of the Radisson Hotel and the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) has issued a warning, citing its constitutional authority to issue an arrest warrant for former governor Godwin Obaseki for his refusal to appear before the committee.

According to reports, Governor Monday Okpebholo asked the House to look into the state’s ₦3.8 billion investment in MOWAA and ₦28 billion investment in the Radisson Hotel project, which led to the committee’s formation.

On Thursday, the committee voiced its unhappiness after Obaseki and a number of others declined invitations, sending legal representatives who justified their absence by claiming ongoing legal proceedings.

Addeh Isibor, the committee’s chairman, asserted that lawsuits could not halt the committee’s operations and that the panel had the legal right to require participation.

During the committee’s next meeting, Isibor stated, “These gentlemen have unilaterally chosen to absent themselves, citing court cases regarding our sitting or issues under consideration.”

We are intelligent individuals, not idiots. Investigations are required by the Constitution. A stay of proceedings cannot be obtained by simply filing a lawsuit in court.

Isibor said that none of the attorneys included legitimate court procedures in their correspondence, denouncing what he called attempts to impede the committee’s work.

The fact that none of the SANs included court procedures to the letters is even more disrespectful. These are blank letters. They wish to prevent this committee from addressing the core of the issue.

“We consider the letters to be unworthy. He stated, “The Edo Assembly is not a party to the suit, but the committee retains the right to involve law enforcement to ensure compliance.”

Former Commissioner for Finance Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and important stakeholders from businesses connected to the projects, such as Tilbury House Nigeria Ltd., Hospitality Investment and Management Company, Afrinvest Capital Ltd., Meristem Trustees Ltd., and Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd., were among those invited alongside Obaseki.

The investigation comes after demonstrators attacked MOWAA on November 9, alleging the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin, causing a high-profile exhibition there to devolve into turmoil.

Security personnel hurried to evacuate dignitaries as the preview, which was intended for international diplomats, businesspeople, and artists, came to a premature stop.

Later, footage of scared visitors—including German and European Union ambassadors—being led out under strict security went viral.

A serving magistrate named Mohammed Suleiman Kumo was charged with three counts of bribery and extortion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in front of Gombe State High Court Judge H.H. Kereng.

On December 3, 2025, the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate filed charges against Kumo, a magistrate at the Chief Magistrate Court in Pantami.

According to the charges, Magistrate Kumo received ₦1.4 million in financial advantages through the bank account of Adamu Ahmed, the court registrar.

Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 is violated by the accused offences.

In particular, there are two alleged instances of accepting money:

The Registrar’s Zenith Bank Account (number 2273938871) received ₦1,000,000.

₦400,000 was received via the same Registrar’s Zenith Bank Account on or around November 11, 2024.

The anti-graft Act’s referenced clause makes it illegal for anybody to request, accept, or obtain property or benefits for themselves or any other person as a result of whatever they have done or will do in the course of performing their official duties.

Violating this clause carries a seven-year jail sentence.

According to reports, Magistrate Kumo entered a not guilty plea to each of the three allegations.

Abubakar Aliyu, the prosecuting attorney, sought the court to send the defendant to the Gombe State Correctional Center and to set a trial date.

However, the prosecution opposed a bail motion made by defense attorney Adamu Bawa.

The defendant was granted temporary bail by Justice Kereng.

The judge used Kumo’s prior administrative bail grant from the EFCC and his voluntary appearance in court from home as justification for the ruling.

In order to make a decision regarding the official bail application and to begin the hearing, the court has postponed the case to January 13 and 14, 2026.

According to Dennis Amachree, a former director of the Department of State Services (DSS), President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a national security emergency will be unsuccessful unless individuals who are funding or undermining national security initiatives are apprehended and prosecuted.

Amachree made the comments on Politics Today, a Channels Television program, in response to worries over the military’s internal sabotage and the nation’s growing insecurity.

“I believe that arrests are necessary for this state of emergency to be more effective,” he stated.

“Let’s not simply state that these individuals have been identified as financiers and that no arrests have been made.”

He emphasized the need for urgent action to rebuild public trust, arguing that pronouncements alone are insufficient.

“There should be arrests, and of course we should instill fear in their hearts to ensure that they can’t just do anything and get away with it,” he declared.

In response to allegations of a military withdrawal before schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi and Major General Musa Uba was killed, Amachree issued a warning that saboteurs within the military and political class needed to be exposed.

“I believe there are saboteurs, and we should be aware that they are prevalent in both politics and the military,” he stated.

However, he added he had faith in Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), the new Minister of Defense, who had already stated his commitment to pursue individuals undermining security efforts.

Recall that in reaction to a recent spike in banditry, terrorism, and mass kidnappings, President Tinubu proclaimed a national security emergency on November 26.

The President ordered the use of certain NYSC camps as training facilities for security personnel and authorized the increase in police and military recruitment.

As part of the plan to strengthen internal security, he added, police training facilities have been upgraded nationwide.

Next week, the Senate will scrutinize President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial nominees closely as lawmakers pledge a stringent confirmation procedure to guarantee that only competent and patriotic people are assigned to represent Nigeria overseas.

The screening will not be “business as usual,” according to three opposition senators who spoke to Punch under condition of anonymity. They emphasized the necessity for qualified envoys given Nigeria’s present difficulties on the international scene.

According to a ranking senator, the nature of diplomatic postings necessitates people who are competent, honest, and focused on the national interest rather than just politics.

“We need seasoned and knowledgeable men and women who can represent and defend Nigeria’s interests before the international community,” the congressman stated.

“We would make sure that those who would represent Nigeria at the foreign missions are patriotic individuals with integrity because the ambassadorial position is not just about political patronage or a job for the boys.”

Each nominee will be “properly grilled” to make sure they are qualified for the position, according to another lawmaker.

President Tinubu asked the Senate to confirm the nominations during its plenary session on Thursday.

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, read the President’s letter, which contained 31 non-career candidates and 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners.

The request came after the Senate had already begun screening a previous batch of three nominees.

Tinubu asked the upper house to “consider and confirm expeditiously” the nominees, citing Sections 171 (1), (2), and (4) of the 1999 Constitution.

Among the notable career diplomats on the list are Ambassadors Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), and Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara). Prominent non-career nominees include former presidential aide and senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom), former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) from Kano, and former Chief of Naval Staff and former Rivers State military administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) from Cross River.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs was given the list by Akpabio, who also gave them a week to finish the screening and turn in their findings.

The Senate President said, “The committee is to report back to us in one week.”

*Vows to report incident to CJN FCT CJ

Human Rights lawyer, Barrister Victor Giwa has said a judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo, brought in about 20armed policemen to court to intimidated him during his trial.

He vowed to report the incident to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN and the Chief Judge of the FCT high court, through a letter.

He said, “The judge brought 20 armed policemen to the court today because of me. Ten of those policemen were inside the courtroom. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, had to ask the judge, ” My Lord, what is happening, why do we have policemen in the court”?

“There were armed men inside the courtroom. When I saw the policemen, I was thinking they came to arrest me, so, I hid inside my car. It was Justice Jude and Asabe Waziri, a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, that made that arrangement.

“The judge is intimidating me in the court, I cannot get justice. I am writing a letter to the CJ and the CJN that I am not even safe in the court of Justice Jude because he has taken the case personal against me.”

Giwa while attempting to make submission before the court urged the court to give him audience.

The police had accused Giwa of forging letterhead paper of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Awa Kalu.

But Awa Kalu, in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode. Egebtolun, put a lie to the allegation of the police against Ibitade and Giwa.

Despite the letter of Prof. Awa Kalu to the Inspector-General of Police, formally distancing himself from the allegation of forgery and impersonation against Giwa and Ibitade, the police have gone ahead to press charge against Giwa.

Chief Kalu, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, had said his letterhead was never forged and that he had not at anytime lodged any complaint to the police about forgery of his document.

Professor Kalu, in a letter dated May 30, 2025, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, clarified that he neither filed a complaint nor reported Mr. Giwa for allegedly forging his firm’s letterhead.

During the proceedings, Thursday, Giwa broughta medical report that he was indisposed and would not be able to proceed with the matter.

He also added that he had e gaged a new lawyer who is supposed to argue his case for him before the court.

But the judge insisted that he must go on with the case.

Giwa had filed an application urging the judge to recuse himself from the matter.

The court was ready to begin hearing of the motion when Giwa told the court that he had a medical report from the hospital amd would not be able to proceed on the ground if ill-health.

But the judge insisted that he must proceed and move his application.

He later told the court that he was just served with the amended coubter-motion of the Police and had not had the opportunity to go through it.

It was at that point that the court adjourned the case to December 10, 2025.

In the application, Barrister Giwa asked the judge to recuse himself from the matter on the ground of bias and partisanship.

He said that he has no chance of getting justice before the court.