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IPOB Rejects Alleged Link to Simon Ekpa, Responds to DSS Claims

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IPOB Rejects Alleged Link to Simon Ekpa, Responds to DSS Claims

On Monday, the Department of State Services (DSS) received a warning from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to distance itself from Simon Ekpa, the self-declared prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE).

Ekpa is not a member of IPOB, the group said in a statement released by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, because it has nothing to do with him and his rebellious organization, IPOB-Auto-Pilot.

According to Powerful, the DSS and the Nigerian government’s attempts to associate Ekpa with its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, are dishonest and pernicious.

It is important to note that Ekpa, who is being prosecuted for terrorism in Finland, does not represent Kanu or IPOB and should not be considered a member of either organization.

“IPOB, under the esteemed leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, hereby issues this urgent statement in response to the latest round of shameful and desperate media propaganda being pushed by the Nigerian Department of State Services (DSS) and their enablers in the compromised press,” the statement read.

Their plan this time revolves around the debunked and rehashed story of a Finnish content creator named Simon Ekpa, who has repeatedly declared in public that he is not an IPOB member.

The DSS is currently making an unsuccessful attempt to mislead the public and divert attention from the illegality and futility of their case against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by seeking to falsely link him to IPOB and our leader.

“Let me state this clearly: Simon Ekpa is not an IPOB member. He is not an IPOB spokesperson, an IPOB representative, or an agent of our movement.

All attempts to associate him with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or the IPOB family are spiteful, dishonest, and deceptive. This latest media gimmick is just the latest in a well-funded psychological manipulation campaign to preserve the DSS’s crumbling narrative.

Read Also: APC Criticizes Gov Lawal for Insecurity, Unfulfilled Commitments

Their kangaroo case against our leader is failing in court, and they have now turned to sensationalism and low-level media manipulation after failing to link IPOB to their unlawful and savage military actions in the South-East.

“We are also aware of the shameful poster campaign that is being used in Abuja to damage our leader’s reputation. The characteristics of a dictatorship that is avoiding the truth are these acts.

Additionally, they represent a last-ditch effort to divert attention from the incriminating evidence—some of which have been caught on camera—of the systematic mistreatment, illegal detentions, and abuses of human rights perpetrated by DSS agents against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. These horrors will soon be made public in court.

“Make the world aware that IPOB is a well-organized, legal, and internationally acclaimed self-determination movement. Our objective is still based on international law and is peaceful. No amount of propaganda or recycled lies can alter this reality.

The illegal detention and extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as well as the Nigerian state’s ongoing disregard for both domestic and international court rulings, are the true issues, and we implore the Nigerian people and the international community to see through this deliberate disinformation campaign.

“The DSS has to put an end to these juvenile shenanigans and get ready to deal with the legal repercussions of their behavior. Powerful emphasized, “Justice will win, and history will document their shame.”

APC Criticizes Gov Lawal for Insecurity, Unfulfilled Commitments

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APC Criticizes Gov Lawal for Insecurity, Unfulfilled Commitments

Zamfara State’s ongoing insecurity has drawn criticism from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Zamfara State branch.
According to Yusuf Idris, the party’s spokesperson, the state’s insecurity situation has gotten worse under Lawal’s leadership.
Their accusation was that the governor had not fulfilled his campaign pledge to put an end to banditry within three months of takeover.

As armed groups continued to target civilians, Idris contended that Lawal was failing to fulfill his responsibilities.

In anticipation of the 2023 elections, Governor Lawal must be getting ready to commemorate his second year anniversary by breaking a pledge he made during his campaigns for governor, according to Idris.

He chastised the governor for what he described as a careless demeanor, asserting that Lawal frequently left the state during times of emergency rather than exercising empathy and leadership.

Idris further disputed the governor’s assertions that state hospitals provide free medical care to banditry victims, stating that many don’t receive treatment because of financial constraints.

He claimed, “I went to Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau and saw firsthand how victims were turned away because they were unable to pay.”

The APC’s accusations were deemed “baseless and unfounded” by Mustafa Kaura, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications, in response to the charges.

He backed the security strategy of Governor Lawal, stating that great strides had been made since the current administration took office.

Governor Dauda Lawal is fighting banditry with extraordinary success, as everyone knows.

Read Also: Fani-Kayode Reacts to Zamfara Crisis: 35 Killed, 223 Abducted

“Many communities were almost abandoned when Governor Matawalle was in office. Kaura stated, “People are going back to their communities today.”

As crucial components in lowering the scope of attacks, he cited recent measures including the hiring of civilian protection guards and more financing for security operations.

Additionally, Kaura reminded the APC that Bello Matawalle, the former state governor and current minister of defense, is a member of the APC and shares accountability for national security.

The opposition, Kaura said, was politicizing the state’s problems and should stop shifting the blame and back continuous peacekeeping operations.

“APC members should be ashamed of themselves for assigning all the blame to Governor Lawal, even though they are aware that he is not in charge of the security agencies,” he said.

Fani-Kayode Reacts to Zamfara Crisis: 35 Killed, 223 Abducted

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Fani-Kayode Reacts to Zamfara Crisis: 35 Killed, 223 Abducted

The country is seeing an increase in terrorist and bandit attacks, especially in the Northern region. Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has called for a swift reaction to these attacks.
Fani-Kayode reported that there had been 223 bandit kidnappings and 35 fatalities in the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State.
The information was reportedly sent to the former Minister by Aminu Sani Jaji, the member of the House of Representatives for the seat, last Thursday.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Ecological Funds, Fani-Kayode, claims that Jaji revealed that bandits and terrorists attacked multiple villages and communities inside his constituency.

For a total of 35 deaths, he listed the villages and the number of deaths that were documented as follows: Madira: 5, Dayau: 5, Kungurki: 5, Unguwa Sarkin Musulmi: 3, Yanruma: 1, Gabaken Mesa: 1, Gwamanan: 3, Yamutsawa: 2, Banga: 10.

Additionally, he named the villages and abducted captives, which totaled 225 kidnapped victims: Banga–60, Gabake–27, Madira–25, Yanruma–7, Gobirawa–15, Gabaken Mesa–23, Gwamanan–2, Modomawa–3, Yamutsawa–30, Kungurki–3, and Kaiwa lamba–38.

How many individuals in the state are going through the same thing if this many are being murdered and kidnapped in a single Federal constituency in a few days? It is incredulous. My heart breaks for the Zamfara people,” Fan-Kayode remarked.

Although he praised the security authorities’ efforts to address regional instability, he demanded that the insurgents be completely defeated.

Read Also: INEC Delineation Controversy: Urhobos Demand Inclusion in NSA Meeting

In addition, the former minister urged assistance for the security agencies’ work.

They cannot do it alone, therefore we must help them by encouraging them and doing everything in our power. A team effort is required for this,” he said.

INEC Delineation Controversy: Urhobos Demand Inclusion in NSA Meeting

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INEC Delineation Controversy: Urhobos Demand Inclusion in NSA Meeting

Urhobos in Delta State’s Warri South Local Government Area have objected to being left out of a Saturday meeting with NSA Nuhu Ribadu.

Discussing the dispute surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) demarcation in Warri South was the purpose of the daily meeting.

On Sunday in Abuja, the Urhobos protested their exclusion from the conference in a petition letter signed by Chief Westham Adehor and Hon. Mark Ikputi on May 15, 2025.

To ensure that our people are properly represented, the two requested that they be “granted audience to be part of this meeting.”

“We, the undersigned Urhobos of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, write to protest our exclusion from the scheduled meeting with the National Security Adviser on the contentious INEC delineation exercise,” the letter said in part.

On the invitation of INEC, they stated, they have participated in multiple sessions and have been the ones representing the Urhobos of Warri South.

They further informed the electoral umpire that the ljaws are not from Delta State’s Warri South Local Government Area, but rather belong to the Agbarha areas, and that the INEC report did not accurately represent the results obtained in the Urhobo axis.

Read Also: House of Representatives is a Progressive Legislative Body – CIPSMN President

Following their well reported press conference on Friday, May 2, 2025, about the ward and polling unit delineation controversy in Warri South, they bemoaned the fact that they had started to be excluded from meetings.

“For accurate representation of our people, we decided to be given an audience to attend this meeting,” they said.

House of Representatives is a Progressive Legislative Body – CIPSMN President

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House of Representatives is a Progressive Legislative Body – CIPSMN President

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EFCC Case: Peter Okoye Testifies Against Group’s Former Manager

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EFCC Case: Peter Okoye Testifies Against Group’s Former Manager

In the ongoing trial of his older brother, Jude Chigozie Okoye, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) introduced Nigerian musician Peter Okoye, often known as Mr. P, as its first prosecution witness (PW1) on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Former P-Square manager Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Ltd., are on trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on four counts that include alleged theft of $1 million and £34,537 in music royalties, according to Naija News.
In testimony led by Mohammed Bashir, an EFCC attorney, Mr. P informed the court that on January 22, 2024, he filed a petition with the EFCC, claiming financial embezzlement related to royalties.

Jude claimed that although he had put Northside Music Ltd. as the respondent at first, investigations showed that Jude controlled 20% of the business and Ifeoma, his wife, owned 80%.
“I didn’t communicate with Paul or Jude until April 2024, when the EFCC inquired about my twin brother’s involvement. I claimed not to know. According to investigations, Jude received royalties from more than 47 bank accounts,” he stated.

Mr. P also mentioned that only Jude was arrested, even though the anti-graft agency eventually invited both Jude and Paul.

“Jude never denied committing the crime,” he also revealed. In a meeting at the EFCC, however, Paul informed me that Jude owned 40% of P-Square, while Paul and I hold 30% each.

Despite being in business as early as 2013—two years prior to the group’s dissolution in 2017—Northside Music Ltd. was registered in 2015, which Mr. P said he was not aware of.

He continued, “Ifeoma, Jude’s wife, was never involved in our business engagements.”

In his account of the duo’s history, Mr. P mentioned that he and Paul began their musical careers in 1999. Peter, Paul, and Jude, the three brothers, were named as directors and shareholders of Northside Entertainment Ltd. by the time it was registered in 2005.

For three accounts that were opened with Ecobank, FCMB, and Zenith Bank, Jude was the only signatory. “Naira and Dollar accounts were among them,” he testified.

Between the 2017 split of P-Square and their 2021 reunion, he said he never got any royalties from the band.

I-Rocking.com and FreeMe Digital were among the music streaming services that paid Northside Entertainment Ltd. all royalties prior to the split.

“I found disparities in royalties after we got back together without Jude managing us, and I saw a company with the same name—Northside Music Ltd.—that Jude alone was running,” he added.

In addition, he disclosed that when a prospective buyer approached the group during a London tour regarding the sale of their music collection, he asked to access the royalty back-end, which revealed dubious transactions.

Read Also: CCYF to Hold Peaceful Protest Against Targeted Attacks on Christianity

On January 22, 2024, the EFCC submitted the petition as evidence in court. No objection was raised by Chief Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN, the defense attorney.

Justice Oshodi postponed further hearings after admitting the petition.

Jude Okoye and Northside song Ltd. are accused of embezzling substantial profits from the internationally popular P-Square song collection, despite the group’s dissolution in 2017 and subsequent reunion without Jude’s leadership, according to reports.

The EFCC is pursuing the trial in an effort to prove improper registration of business companies associated with the P-Square brand, fraudulent appropriation of royalties, and misuse of company accounts.

Fatal Boat Mishap in Kwara Leaves 37 Dead

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Fatal Boat Mishap in Kwara Leaves 37 Dead

37 people were killed in a boat accident in the Gbajibo-Mudi community in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, on Thursday, according to reports.

There were some survivors, but the boat was overcrowded with over 100 people, according to reliable sources.

Rescue efforts are currently being supervised on the ground by the community’s emir, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, and the chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi.

According to reports, the terrible tragedy happened at around 6:00 p.m., and the boat was en route to one of the settlements in Niger State.

In Niger State, the majority of the passengers were traders on their way for business.

A similar catastrophe happened in Gbajibo-Mudi hamlet on October 5, 2024, when overcrowding killed people attending the Islamic Maulid holiday. More than 200 people died in that disaster, and the state government had to pay N2 million to pay for the survivors’ medical expenses.

CCYF to Hold Peaceful Protest Against Targeted Attacks on Christianity

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CCYF to Hold Peaceful Protest Against Targeted Attacks on Christianity

Christian youths under the banner of the Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) have called for an end to what they described as “deliberate, well-funded attacks” against Christianity and its leaders.

In a statement issued by the convener of the group, James Paul Adama, the CCYF decried “a growing and dangerous trend of sponsored assaults on the Christian faith,” warning that such actions risk igniting religious tensions in the country if not urgently addressed.

“Christianity and our religious leaders are being targeted, our faith is being disrespected, and our values are being undermined, not just randomly, but in an orchestrated, well-financed manner,” Adama said.

The group said it has concluded plans to stage a peaceful protest in Abuja on May 21 in response to these attacks.

According to the group, beyond defending their faith, the protest also aims to draw government attention to the increasing wave of killings and insecurity across the country.

“We can no longer stay silent while blood is being shed and our faith is mocked. We are calling on the Nigerian Government to take immediate and decisive steps to stop these senseless killings and protect religious freedom.

“This distressing situation has been exacerbated by the fact that Christianity and Christian Leaders are being deliberately targeted, Our beliefs and traditions disrespected, and Our faith undermined by Omoyele Sowere and His collaborators that are receiving financial support for the sole purpose of sparking religious conflict.

“We are also using this protest to call the attention of the Government to the alarming rise in killings and bloodshed across the country with a demand for the Government to do everything possible to end this senseless killings,” the statement added.

Tinubu Tells Alaafin of Oyo: ‘I Wanted to Involve Canadian Prime Minister to Find You

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Tinubu Tells Alaafin of Oyo: ‘I Wanted to Involve Canadian Prime Minister to Find You

President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he almost contacted former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for assistance in locating the Alaafin of Oyo-designate, who had returned to Canada before to his ceremonial coronation in Oyo Kingdom, Nigeria.
Tinubu made the statement while receiving the recently installed 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.
“You caused worry when the nomination was revealed and you returned to Canada. I had wanted to phone the President (Prime Minister); more specifically, the President of Canada. We were in Brazil together when he told me he would not run for politics again.

“I wanted to ask him whether he can help me locate my Alaafin, but I was later assured that you went to sign off,” the leader added.

Read Also: Presidential System Failing Nigeria – APC Chieftain Cole

He praised the new monarch for his dignity and discipline, as well as his efforts to promote Yoruba culture in Canada.

“I’m delighted you’re a beacon of hope for the rest of our race; the excellent name you left behind in Canada, and the way you represented our race as a dedicated engineer who wants to help our country. It’s a good thing you’re back, crowned, and arrived here first. “I really appreciate it,” the president stated.

Tinubu emphasized the importance of inclusivity in the nation’s culture, peace, and stability, stressing that leading the country was not a one-man show.

Presidential System Failing Nigeria – APC Chieftain Cole

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Presidential System Failing Nigeria – APC Chieftain Cole

Tonye Cole of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC), who is running for governor in the general elections of 2023, says Nigeria needs to reevaluate its current presidential form of governance.

The system is not appropriate for the nation, Cole emphasized.

“The majority of Africans are uneasy with the political systems that are in place in their countries,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.

We must return to Nigeria and reexamine this American system, which we refer to as the Presidential system. A presidential system won’t function here, but we can import the UK’s parliamentary system and it will function here.

When asked if they are happy with their nation’s democracy and political system, every African would say that they are not. And why? “Because it is completely opposing to who we are,” he stated.

Read Also: Tinubu’s Administration Has Rendered Shettima Ceremonial Figure – APC Leader

Citing China and the Arab world as examples of nations that rejected Western political models, he asserted that every successful nation has created a system of governance specific to its own circumstances.

Insisting that Nigeria’s political system should be based on its own culture, the former APC gubernatorial candidate for Rivers State pointed out that the nation had an indigenous political structure prior to colonization and ought to think about reverting to it.

Let’s create a political system that is African and Nigerian-focused; we’ve already done so. Even when the slave trade was in effect, we had a governmental system in place before the arrival of the Europeans. Then what are we fleeing from? We’re aware of what to do,” he said.

He said that the Nigerian presidential system doesn’t work in part because it may be abused by a select few, and it hasn’t established any accountability-holding institutions.

In addition, the politician said Nigeria is creating institutions that are based on the British system, which he said is incompatible with Nigerian culture.

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