News
10th Senate: Returning Senators under EFCC radar
On February 28, 2023, Nigerians elected lawmakers who will represent their various federal constituencies across the country to occupy the 10th National Assembly.
The executive arm of the Nigerian government would be run by former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who did not say much about fighting corruption like the outgoing government of President Muhammadu Buhari that wore the fight against corruption like a toga.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is the agency set up to prosecute acts of corruption by any public officer.
Politicians do anything within their powers to stop the EFCC from coming after them, either during or after their tenures in government.
The incoming Senate has several members who are already facing corruption charges. Some of these lawmakers are even contesting for one leadership position or another in the Senate.
As their inauguration draws closer, DAILY POST takes a look at the members-elect who are facing corruption cases.
Gabriel Suswam
Gabriel Suswam, who is currently the Senator representing Benue North East district in the 9th National Assembly, is one of the returning Senators entangled with corruption cases. The former governor of Benue State of the PDP, is being probed over some of his activities as the number one citizen of Benue. Suswan is facing 32 charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Suswan and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omadachi Oklobia and then Accountant of the State House, Mrs Janet Aluga – were accused of diverting N9.79b – part of which was meant for Police Reform Programme and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment programme while he was state governor from 2007 – 2015. They allegedly diverted the money while he was governor – between 2012 and 2015.
Orji Uzor Kalu
In December 2019, Kalu was sentenced to 12 years in prison for N7.65 billion fraud in his first year in the Senate. In an amended 39 counts charge, Kalu was accused by the EFCC of conspiring and diverting over N7 billion from the coffers of the state. However, the Supreme Court nullified his conviction and ordered a retrial. The former Abia Governor, who is a returning Senator for the 10th Assembly, had been accused of stealing and mismanaging funds belonging to Abia State during his days as governor between 1999 and 2007. He is being prosecuted alongside his former Commissioner for finance, Ude Udeogo, and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited.
Ifeanyi Ubah
The Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, was elected into the 9th National Assembly as Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). He is a returning senator of the 10th National Assembly. Ubah is being investigated by the EFCC for allegedly receiving N43.29bn through the petroleum subsidy scheme in 2011.
Abba Moro
Abba Moro, the former minister of interior and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is the lawmaker representing Benue South senatorial zone and a returning senator of the 10th Assembly. Moro took the place of former Senate President David Mark at the Senate. He is currently being investigated for alleged fraud over a clumsy Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise, in 2014. The exercise led to a stampede that left 20 people dead. Moro is also facing a corruption trial in his role in an alleged $2.5 million fraud, involving missing application fees.
Aliyu Wamakko
The former governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko was reelected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the last general elections. He is returning to the senate to represent Sokoto North senatorial district. The lawmaker, as the EFCC announced in April 2018, is under investigation over alleged theft of public funds and money laundering totaling N15b. The former Governor, however, denied the claims by the anti-graft agency.
Peter Nwaoboshi
Nwaoboshi is a returning lawmaker. The Delta North representative is one of the returning senators facing corruption cases. The PDP chieftain was arraigned by the EFCC for alleged fraud of N322 million in 2018 along with two firms on charges bordering on money laundering and conspiracy. A Judge of the Federal High Court, Mohammed Idris had on April 25, 2018, ruled that the Delta lawmaker should be remanded in prison. He got bail two days later. The trial is still ongoing.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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