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Fubara camp opposes emergency rule as three killed in Rivers Crisis
The crisis in Rivers State snowballed into violence on Monday leading to the killing of a brother to Edison Ehie, Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s Chief of Staff, the father of a newly elected councillor, and about three others.
Also, three local government secretariats were torched by suspected thugs shortly after the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, withdrew the policemen guarding the council premises.
Suspected political thugs torched Ikwere Local Government while an explosion rocked the Eleme council secretariat.
Rival groups also attempted to take over Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni councils.
The development disrupted the planned resumption of the 23 newly elected local government chairmen and the swearing-in of 314 councillors.
Emohua Local Government Area was reportedly taken over by members of the Peoples Democratic Party opposed to the council poll which was held on Saturday.
The PDP and the All Progressives Congress had on Sunday rejected the conduct and outcome of the local government election, stating that no election was held in Rivers State on Saturday.
The Rivers State PDP loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, described the poll as an exercise in futility, vowing to challenge it in court.
Despite the opposition to the poll, Fubara swore in the newly elected council chairmen at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
The council election was won by Fubara’s allies in the Action Peoples Party which secured 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions, while the Action Alliance candidate won one seat.
The APP also won 314 out of the 319 councillorship seats in the 23 LGAs in the state.
The new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, who withdrew the policemen guarding the secretariats on Monday, explained that it was in compliance with the IG’s directives.
The police had sealed the 23 LGA headquarters in July following the crisis that greeted the attempted tenure elongation of the former LGA chairmen in the state.
The command said the decision was in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
The police in a statement said, “In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha hereby convey the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state.
“This decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel.
“The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.’’
But a few hours after the elected LG chairmen attempted to enter the secretariats to swear in their councillors, gunshots and violence broke out in some areas.
In Ahoada East Local Government Area, as the chairman and his councillors tried to access the secretariat, loud gunshots rent the air.
As a violent protest erupted in front of the council, a detachment of policemen was deployed to quell the situation which later got out of hand.
The policemen were forced to fire several gunshots into the air to disperse the crowd, and soldiers arrived at the scene and allegedly took over the secretariat.
During the melee, a relative of the Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Edison Ehie, was reportedly shot dead.
The state Secretary of the Inter-State Party Advisory Council, Benjamin Ogbobula, confirmed the incident.
He condemned the torching of several council secretariats in the state.
Ogbobula, who spoke on a news programme aired Nigeria Info, Port Harcourt, monitored by our correspondent on Monday, called on security agencies in the state and the National Security Adviser to take urgent action to contain the political situation before it gets out of hand.
He stated, “What I know about Ahoada East, is they shot the junior brother to the Chief of Staff, Government House. I condemn the dastardly act in its entirety.
‘’They don’t have the right to take life and the burning of the local government is not a welcome development. They are taking us back. We must forge ahead.
Ogbobula, who is also the Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party in the state, said Fubara was right to have sworn in the elected LG chairmen.
At the Obio/Akpor council secretariat, scores of youths were spotted wielding machetes, bottles and sticks.
The youths later clashed with another group at the council secretariat while gunshots rang out shortly after the Chairman of the local government, Chijioke Ihunwo, inaugurated the newly elected councillors.
It was also gathered that friends and well-wishers who came to grace the inauguration ran for their lives.
Some scaled the fence of the secretariat for safety, while others ran for their lives through the back gate.
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, a similar protest took place as some youths blocked the entrance of the council headquarters in an attempt to stop the new local government chairman from entering the premises.
One of the protesters cited the amendment of the Local Government Law by the Martin Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly which extended the tenure of the former LG chairman by six months due to the alleged failure of Fubara to conduct the council elections then.
The unidentified man said, “When the governor was unable to constitute or empower RSIEC to conduct local government election, the House of Assembly considered it that a vacuum cannot exist and thereby extended the tenure of the local government chairmen by six months. The six months is still running, and the governor woke up from his slumber to do a Kangaroo election.”
Online videos showed some youths destroying plastic chairs outside the secretariat even as they afterwards forced their way into the premises after unlocking the gate.
In Eleme LGA, a section of the council secretariat was set ablaze with substances suspected to be dynamites.
This occurred before the local government chairman, Brian Gokpa, arrived at the secretariat with his councillors and supporters.
It was gathered that some properties were looted before the hoodlums torched the building but the fire was extinguished by the chairman’s supporters before the officials of the fire service arrived.
However, offices, windows, doors, and stationery were destroyed by the fire.
Gokpa assured that the incident would not affect the discharge of his constitutional duties to the people of the area.
He stated, “On reaching here this morning we found the secretariat being torched by hoodlums who don’t mean well for Eleme people. This act was carried out around 8am-8:30am.
“It was looted first before it was set ablaze. If you go around now you won’t find anything. The furniture, fridge, air conditioners, everything in the offices were looted.
‘’We are going to start from scratch. It is a very difficult situation. However, since we are ready for leadership we will ensure that we start on a new note.”
In Khana Local Government Area, a man said to be the father of one of the newly elected councilors, was hit by a bullet fired by some hoodlums who shot sporadically near the Rectors’ Lodge where the swearing-in of the councillors was about to take place in Bori, the council headquarters.
Meanwhile, the River governor’s camp has warned against the declaration of emergency rule in the state.
The Special Assistant on Electronic Media to the Rivers State Governor, Jerry Omatsogunwa, condemned the violence that erupted in the state, even as he described as wicked those calling for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
Omatsogunwa stated, “Is that not witchcraft? That is pure witchcraft. I think four states held an election on Saturday, the same time as the Rivers State election and those people have been sworn in, nobody has called for a state of emergency in those states.
‘’So far, out of the 26 states that were running caretaker before the Supreme Court came and gave that window of three months, nobody has called for a declaration of state of emergency in those states. That is so wicked, that is so barbaric and it’s not fit for modern-day society. The wickedness of the highest order.’’
Speaking further, the media aide asked President Bola Tinubu to ignore those suggesting an emergency rule in the state.
He noted, “We have problems in some Northern states where other things are happening, yet nobody has called for a state of emergency. They gave a window for election, the state high court has said go ahead with the election, what the Federal high court did is okay, police aren’t involved in the election.’’
He further said, “You (journalists) went round to cover the election, did you see any police anywhere? And this is the most peaceful election. I can tell you the police were interlopers; they were looting and carting away materials to cause a crisis.”
News
Every Naira stolen robs Enugu of development’ — Gov. Mbah charges Public Officers on Accountability
Mbah gave the charge on Thursday when he declared open a two-day training programme, Compliance with Anti-Corruption Policies and Financial Regulations Frameworks, organised by his administration for the state’s political appointees and civil servants.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, spoke on the theme, “Enhancing Governance through Compliance: Navigating Anti-Corruption Policies, Financial Regulations and Emerging Taxation Frameworks.”
He described corruption as one of the greatest obstacles to development because resources are diverted through fraudulent practices, thus directly reducing government’s capability to provide essential social services.
“Therefore, Enugu State, under our leadership, set out three governance principles that would serve as a guide for our governance thinking and delivery strategy —Transparency, Traceability and Accountability. These three pillars have informed a lot of our procurement and systems-thinking model, our e-governance initiatives and our financial management across the state.
“This is because every naira lost to corruption, financial irregularities and non-compliance means fewer resources for smart schools, primary healthcare centres, roads and other critical infrastructure. Our governance is built on transparency, traceability and accountability, and compliance begins with knowledge,” Mbah said.
He urged public servants to stay abreast of emerging taxation and regulatory frameworks, stressing that ignorance of the law would no longer be an excuse for non-compliance. He also tasked participants to cascade the knowledge acquired to their colleagues in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and assured that government would continue to monitor compliance across the public service.
Speaking at the event, the consultant, Justin Kuatsea, noted that corruption had become deeply entrenched and could only be overcome through collective action and exemplary leadership.
Kuatsea, a certified management trainer and retired Deputy Director, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), maintained that the anti-corruption fight must begin with individuals in their homes, workplaces and communities, while political leaders must lead by example by demonstrating integrity and accountability.
Kuatsea identified employment irregularities, recruitment abuses, concealment of official files, irregular promotions, contract inflation, payments for unexecuted contracts and other financial misconduct as common corruption indicators in the public service.
“That was why I said that the fight against corruption must start with individuals, but political leaders must lead by example,” he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Xavine Consulting Limited, Catherine Kadiri, said the training was designed to ensure that civil servants fully understand anti-corruption policies, financial regulatory frameworks and emerging taxation laws.
Kadiri said the programme would significantly tackle ignorance of ethical and operational standards in the public service, noting that participants would gain practical knowledge applicable to their respective roles.
She disclosed that 16 resource persons, including experts from the ICPC and Nigeria’s financial regulatory sector, were engaged to facilitate the sessions and expose participants to global best practices in governance and compliance.
According to her, the programme underscored the Mbah administration’s understanding that it could not build its envisioned $30 billion economy without a solid, committed, ethical, accountable, and highly responsible public service.
“There should be no excuse for non-compliance. This programme is designed to ensure public officers understand the dos and don’ts of governance, financial regulations and anti-corruption frameworks.
“We are also adding integrity to the core pillars so participants leave with the right values to drive good governance,” Kadiri concluded.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday warned that many of the factors that triggered Nigeria’s three-year civil war in 1967 are still with the country, stressing that every effort must be made to prevent a recurrence of such a conflict, which resulted in huge losses of lives and property.
Obasanjo made the remark while receiving a book, research materials, videos and interviews of eyewitnesses documenting the Asaba Massacre and related events, compiled by the Chairman of the Asaba Memorial Trust and the Asaba Image Branding and Project Committee, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
He described the prospect of another civil war as unthinkable, insisting that the country had already fought “one civil war too many.”
He said, “What went wrong in the past is essential to preventing a repeat. We must do everything humanly possible to prevent its recurrence.”
He called on Nigerians to collectively adopt a “never again” resolve against civil war.
“Some of the things that led to the Civil War are still with us. How long will this remain so?
“I was with a colleague when Gen Yakubu Gowon said that we would not survive a second civil war as a country.
I believe we have fought one civil war too many already.
“To say that we will have a second civil war, God forbid.
We must understand what happened, condemn what should not have happened, and do everything humanly possible to prevent its recurrence.
“And then, for us to be able to say, ‘never again,’ what are we going to do to make that possible?
“Thank you very much for making people know about it, for people to learn from it, and for people to take a vow that it should never happen again. I will do everything possible to ensure that there is never again a civil war in this country,” he said.
The former President hailed Nduka-Eze for the effort to preserve history, saying the importance of documenting the past lies in helping the nation understand its history, learn from it and ensure such tragedies never happen again.
He added that at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, part of its value is to preserve the past, capture the present and inspire the future, while emphasising that understanding the events surrounding the civil war, including the Asaba massacre, remains critical for national healing.
“We pride ourselves that we preserve the past, we capture the present, and we inspire the future,” he said.
The former president, who acknowledged his role as a soldier during the civil war, said he could not provide detailed accounts of the Asaba incident, noting that operations in that area were under the command of the late former Head of State, Gen Murtala Mohammed.
Obasanjo recalled that towards the end of the war, he was given key responsibilities to ensure that no further massacres occurred, stressing that abuses by soldiers were not condoned.
He also noted that former Head of State, Gen Gowon, had publicly acknowledged and apologised for the excesses of the war, stating that, at the highest level, actions such as the Asaba massacre were neither ordered nor condoned.
The former president, who commended Nduka-Eze for the work, promised to study the transcripts and audiovisual materials.
“At OOPL, we pride ourselves that we preserve the past, we capture the present, and we inspire the future. We capture the past, and this is the past; we want to capture it; we want to know about it.
“I must confess, and you know that I was involved in the civil war. When people talk about the Asaba Massacre, I always confess that I cannot give details of it,” he said.
Obasanjo also narrated how he prevented a soldier from raping a woman in Asaba, saying such an act would have attracted vicarious liability on his part as a commander.
Obasanjo maintained that documenting and teaching the history of the civil war and the Asaba Massacre were vital for national unity, adding that he would do everything within his power to ensure Nigeria never experiences another civil war.
Providing insight into the work on the Asaba Massacre, Nduka-Eze described it as a substantial and carefully cross-referenced body of evidence, including eyewitness testimonies, recorded interviews, archival materials, audio-visual documentation and established historical scholarship.
He said that across independent sources, a clear and consistent account emerges of events following the entry of federal troops into Asaba, then a civilian population centre in the Mid-West Region.
“The evidence establishes a recurring pattern. Civilians were assembled in public places under conditions of fear and uncertainty. During these assemblies, residents were required to proclaim allegiance to the Nigerian state, including being instructed to declare ‘One Nigeria’ and otherwise demonstrate loyalty.
“In a setting where identity and suspicion had become dangerously intertwined, these acts were understood by those present as affirmations of belonging and safety. Men were then separated from women and children. Thereafter, unarmed male civilians were killed in a manner consistently described across multiple independent accounts.
“Compliance with these demands did not secure protection. The sequence, repeated across testimonies, reflects a tragic contradiction in which individuals who openly affirmed their identity and loyalty as Nigerians were nonetheless killed in the most undignified manner by the same Nigerian state to which they had pledged allegiance.
“This sequence is corroborated by testimonies, documentary materials and scholarly works, and remains materially unchallenged. While precise casualty figures cannot be definitively fixed, the convergence of credible evidence points to a substantial loss of civilian life, more than a thousand men, and a profound rupture in the fabric of the Asaba community,” he said.
Nduka-Eze added that deep-seated ethnic suspicion, unresolved grievances arising from Nigeria’s first military coup and the failure to enforce accountability were among the factors that culminated in the Asaba Massacre and the 1967 civil war.
According to him, ethnic mistrust did not begin with the war but had already become entrenched before independence.
He noted that many of the issues that led to the civil war remained unresolved, with ethnic groups still relating to one another with suspicion.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of 46 microfinance banks (MFBs) across the country for failing to comply with key regulatory requirements, in one of the regulator’s most sweeping enforcement actions in recent years.The apex bank announced the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, stating that the revocation took effect from July 1, 2026.According to the CBN, the action was approved by its Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, in line with the provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), 2020, as part of efforts to safeguard the financial system, protect depositors and ensure strict compliance with regulatory standards.
The CBN said the affected institutions failed to meet one or more of the conditions required to retain their operating licences.
“According to the revocation order, the action became necessary because of one or more of the following circumstances: insufficient assets to meet liabilities, closure of operations without the approval of the CBN, inactivity and cessation of financial intermediation, failure to commence operations within 12 months of licence approval, and failure to maintain minimum capital funds unimpaired by losses,” the statement said.
It added: “The revocation of the licences is part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the stability of the financial sector, protect depositors, and ensure that licensed institutions comply with current laws and regulatory requirements.”
The affected microfinance banks are:
Minji-Se Churchill MFB (Rivers)
Merchant MFB (Abia)
Janmaa MFB (Kwara)
Busu MFB (Niger)
Gold MFB (Lagos)
Zain MFB (formerly Dawakin Tofa MFB) (Kano)
Bompai MFB (Kano)
Ajwa MFB (Kano)
Now Now Digital MFB (Kano)
Crystabel Microfinance Bank (Bayelsa)
Chanelle MFB (Lagos)
Abia SME MFB (Abia)
Kamba MFB (Kebbi)
Iwade MFB (Ogun)
Winview MFB (Abuja)
Zuru MFB (Kebbi)
Minjibir MFB (Kano)
Shanono MFB (Kano)
Sumaila MFB (Kano)
Rimin Gado MFB (Kano)
Mwaghavul MFB (Plateau)
Sycamore MFB (Kano)
TOFA MFB (Kano)
Safegate MFB (Lagos)
Creekline MFB (Delta)
Bestar MFB (Oyo)
Livingspring MFB (Cross River)
Apple MFB (Ogun)
Stanford MFB (Uyo, Akwa Ibom)
Frontline MFB (Anambra)
Zafec MFB (Kaduna)
Supreme MFB (Lagos)
Bejin-Doko MFB (Niger)
Kanopoly MFB (Kano)
Bellbank MFB (formerly Tsanyawa MFB) (Kano)
Yeneng MFB (Plateau)
Creditville MFB (Lagos)
MBAG MFB (Lagos)
Straight Sahara MFB (Benue)
Our Pass MFB (Ondo)
VERDANT MFB (Lagos)
Basawa MFB (Kaduna)
Casha MFB (Abuja)
Esteem MFB (Kano)
Enterpreneur MFB (Lagos)
Avantus MFB (Osun)
The CBN reiterated its commitment to promoting a safe, sound and resilient financial system, stressing that it would continue to take supervisory and regulatory actions where necessary to maintain public confidence in Nigeria’s banking sector.
The latest enforcement action follows the banking recapitalisation programme introduced by the apex bank in March 2024, which gave financial institutions until March 31, 2026, to meet new minimum capital requirements.
Earlier this year, the CBN disclosed that 30 banks had successfully met the new capital threshold, while institutions that failed to comply continued to face regulatory sanctions.
With the revocation now in effect, the 46 affected institutions have lost their legal authority to operate as licensed microfinance banks in Nigeria.
Five Nigerians who were detained at the MACA Prison in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, since August 2025 have returned home following the intervention of the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
The returnees were received on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, alongside the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and other government officials.
According to the ministry, six young men from Sokoto State had travelled by road to Abidjan for trading but were arrested and detained without charge or trial. They were identified as Aliyu Malami, Nasiru Umar, Shamsu Abubakar, Sa’adu Bello, Lyman Mohammed and Usama Murtala.
Following sustained diplomatic engagement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Mission in Côte d’Ivoire, the detainees were released.
However, one of them, Usama Murtala, fell seriously ill while in prison due to inadequate medical care. He died on June 24, 2026, at a critical care hospital, a day after his release. He was buried on June 25 in accordance with Islamic rites after consultations with his family.
“There was no charge sheet. There was no trial. They were simply detained and taken to prison,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She explained that Nigerian authorities were not notified of the detention, delaying diplomatic intervention.
The minister added that the detainees neither spoke French nor had access to legal representation.
“They could not speak English in an environment where French was spoken. They never really stood a chance,” she said.
Describing Usama’s death as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by Nigerians abroad, particularly those undertaking irregular migration, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said many Nigerians imprisoned overseas are vulnerable young people seeking better opportunities but often become trapped in judicial systems they do not understand.
She disclosed that the Federal Government would pursue Usama’s case with the Ivorian authorities and seek compensation for his family.
The minister also cautioned Nigerians against embarking on risky journeys abroad, noting that many citizens imprisoned overseas were intercepted while transiting through foreign countries.
She said the government’s intervention was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its Citizen Diplomacy initiative.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu appealed to the Sokoto State Government to provide rehabilitation and skills acquisition programmes for the five returnees, revealing that the Federal Government had formally requested the state to support their reintegration.
“They have endured severe pain, trauma and hardship, and deserve support to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Aliyu Malami said he travelled to Côte d’Ivoire for business but ended up spending several months in detention under difficult conditions.
He said the language barrier prevented them from explaining their situation to the authorities and expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for securing their release.
Malami added that he intends to rebuild his life and return to legitimate business.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies provided relief packages to the returnees, who are expected to reunite with their families in Sokoto on Wednesday.
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Former Minister Uche Nnaji Reportedly Arrested at Enugu Airport Over Alleged Certificate Forgery
Former Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was reportedly arrested on Wednesday at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, while preparing to board a chartered flight to Abuja.
According to Premium Times, sources at the airport said Nnaji was taken into custody and is expected to be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning over allegations of certificate forgery.
The reported arrest comes weeks after the Federal High Court reportedly granted the ICPC permission to arrest and investigate Nnaji over the allegations. The court also authorised the anti-graft agency to declare him wanted through newspapers, social media platforms and other media outlets after the commission alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations for questioning.
According to the ICPC, its application to the court followed Nnaji’s alleged refusal to appear before investigators despite several invitations related to the forgery allegations.
The case stems from a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji submitted forged University of Nigeria and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
The publication alleged that the documents were presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the report, Nnaji later acknowledged that the University of Nigeria did not issue him the degree certificate in question, a development the newspaper said corroborated its investigation.
The former minister had previously denied the existence of the court order authorising his arrest, describing the publication as a “media trial.”
However, on June 18, he reportedly filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal seeking to set aside the arrest order.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued an official statement confirming the reported arrest, while Nnaji’s legal team had yet to publicly respond to the latest development.
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