News
Kogi Coalition Claims Security Funds Allegations Are Attempt to Discredit Leaders
A coalition of prominent civil society organizations has strongly petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging it to dismiss a recent petition targeting former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and the incumbent, Governor Usman Ododo.
The coalition—comprising the Centre for Public Integrity, Nigeria’s Integrity Watch, the Northern Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Forum, and the Foundation for Democracy in Africa—described the allegations of financial misappropriation against the duo as “highly politicized, sponsored, and malicious.”
The development follows a June 9 petition submitted to the anti-graft agency by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC). The groups had demanded an investigation into the management of ₦36.9 billion and ₦23.7 billion belonging to the Kogi State Government, alleging that the funds were illicitly funneled through the state’s Security Operation Account to private entities and individuals.
However, in a counter-petition addressed to the ICPC Executive Chairman, the coalition argued that the public exposure of specific individuals and security assets by CISLAC was a deliberate attempt to compromise covert security operations in the state.
“In the fight against terrorism, operational tactics and actors are, by necessity, kept highly confidential,” the coalition stated in a joint release signed by Comrade Job Samuel Danfulani and Dr. John Samuel Nangi, among others. “The decision to expose these sensitive details raises serious questions about whether the petitioners are intentionally trying to compromise the security architecture of Kogi State.”
Political Vendetta
The coalition traced the sudden wave of activism to aggrieved political actors who lost out during the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in Kogi State.
“Having failed to secure the mandates of their party delegates, these individuals have resorted to using civil society organizations as proxies to wage a war of distraction, character assassination, and political vendetta against both the past administration of Governor Yahaya Bello and the current administration of Governor Usman Ododo,” the statement read.
Legitimate Security Funding
Defending the state’s financial transactions, the coalition referenced clarifications from the Kogi State House of Assembly. Through Yabagi Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, the Assembly confirmed that the financial operations of the state, including security accounts, have remained under regular and rigorous legislative oversight.
Furthermore, the coalition cited the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, who recently noted that maintaining security in a critical transit state like Kogi requires substantial, continuous, and highly confidential investments. The funds, they argued, were legitimately deployed for intelligence gathering, operational logistics, surveillance systems, and strategic support for federal security agencies.
“The figures being brandished by the petitioners are deliberately sensationalized to generate negative media coverage. They rely on leaked administrative transaction lists and hearsay, ignoring the reality that public security operations often involve unconventional disbursements to field operatives and community intelligence networks,” the coalition added.
A Call for Accountability
Warning the ICPC against being used as an arena to resolve post-primary grievances, the coalition urged the commission to protect the integrity of national security operations by refusing to let confidential defense spending be politicized.
They further demanded that the ICPC invite the signatories of the CISLAC petition to substantiate their allegations under caution, ensuring that those who make destabilizing allegations to public institutions are held legally accountable.
The petition was also copied to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; the Director General of the Department of Stateh Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu; and the leadership of the National Assembly.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) on Tuesday demolished a distressed building at Amansea Boundary in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State after it showed signs of imminent collapse.
The demolition followed the evacuation of tenants from the structure as part of efforts to prevent potential loss of lives and property.
In a statement personally signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Dr. Osita Onuko, the agency said the decision was taken after experts identified the building as a serious safety risk.
“ACTDA today evacuated tenants from a building showing signs of imminent collapse in Awka and subsequently demolished the structure before disaster could strike,” Onuko stated.
He emphasized that the authority remains committed to proactive administration and effective management of the capital territory, particularly in matters relating to public safety.
“This is what proactive governance looks like—putting lives first, not paperwork. We are determined to take necessary actions to safeguard residents and prevent avoidable tragedies,” he said.
Dr. Onuko noted that the intervention underscores the agency’s determination to prevent building-related disasters and ensure strict compliance with safety standards across the capital territory.
He also commended the Governor of Chukwuma Soludo for his commitment to the protection of lives and property.
“Kudos to Governor Soludo for always leading from the front and supporting initiatives that protect lives and property across the state,” he added.
The ACTDA boss reassured residents that the authority would continue to monitor buildings within the capital territory and take necessary action against structures that pose risks to public safety.
A Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), said the hours surrounding the death of Gen. Sani Abacha on June 8, 1998, left him with a lingering sense that “something was fishy.”
He disclosed that he and the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, were mysteriously locked inside a waiting room at the Presidential Villa for nearly an hour before being informed that the Head of State had died.
The revelations are contained in Chapter 19 of Abubakar’s 264-page, 27-chapter autobiography titled ‘Call of Duty,’ obtained by our correspondent on Saturday at the public presentation of the book and two others at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
The presentation was held to mark the former Head of State’s 84th birthday and was attended by President Bola Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima as Special Guest of Honour.
Abubakar wrote that the chain of events began with a phone call on the morning of Monday, June 8, 1998, while he was waiting to be informed about his own impending retirement from the military after 35 years of service.
He wrote, “On Monday, 8 June, I was waiting for him concerning the assignment he said he had for me. I received a call very early in the morning that he was going to be retired. There was no other way to interpret that.
“I quietly prayed that he would not send me to Togo where there was going to be an ECOWAS summit. I was tired of going everywhere.
“I was effectively in detention, I didn’t want to travel to Togo. I told my wife I was not happy with the call because I was still hoping I wouldn’t have to travel to Togo.”
Later that morning, he received another instruction to meet the Head of State.
“As I entered the bathroom, there was another call. I was told that the Head of State wanted to see me.
“Out of frustration, I asked if it was travelling to Togo and the caller replied that it was on a different issue.
“Because of the urgency, I didn’t wear my uniform. I wore a tracksuit and slippers and proceeded to the Presidential Villa. On getting to his residence, I was told he was not in the office,” he stated.
At the Villa, Abubakar said he could not make sense of events that followed as they were strange.
He narrated, “One of the guards informed me that anytime I went to see him, regardless of who was with him, I would still go in. After waiting for about half an hour, I wondered why he would be that early in the office.
“As I was climbing the stairs, (One of the guards informed me) that Abacha said I should stay in the waiting room. What struck me was that Abacha said I should stay in the waiting room.
“Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi joined me shortly after. We waited for about an hour. I decided to go and see Abacha by any means because I could not understand why we should be kept that long.”
According to him, the door of the waiting room had been locked without the knowledge of the two men.
“I asked Bamaiyi if he was aware that we had been locked inside.
“Something kept telling me that something was wrong but I could not place a finger on it,” he stated.
He said when the door was eventually opened, it was not by an aide, but by the country’s most senior police officer.
“After some time, the door was opened and the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, came in.
“He said: ‘Let’s go.’ We walked towards the office and I informed him that I was told Abacha was at the residence.
“It was at this stage that he informed me that Abacha was dead. I was shocked. I asked him what happened and he insisted we proceed first. He did not tell me anything else,” said the former Head of State.
Abubakar described arriving at Abacha’s residence and being confronted with the reality of the moment.
According to him, “When we got to the residence, I asked to see Abacha’s body. I was told it was inside. I entered the room and removed the covering.
“I was in shock at the sudden development. I prayed for him and left the room. Then lots of conversations began.”
He recalled the chaotic scene and conversations surrounding succession that unfolded around him as senior figures converged on the residence.
“I saw a lot of people coming in. I saw Al-Mustapha. I am not sure I saw Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo, the Director of Military Intelligence.
“I remember Alhaji Babagana Kingibe was there. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, was there as well.
“We deliberated on how to break the news to the world. The CJN said the first thing was the appointment of a new Head of State to avoid a vacuum before informing Nigerians,” said Abubakar.
Abubakar accused the top brass of the military, what he called Abacha’s “inner caucus” at the Villa of being more concerned with succession politics than with the late Head of State’s burial.
He disclosed that they had already begun manoeuvring before he and other Provisional Ruling Council members were even informed.
“It then occurred to me that all along, some of those we met at the Presidential Villa, the so-called ‘inner caucus’, were not even involved in preparations for the burial.
“They were more interested in who was going to be the next Head of State. Bamaiyi and I would not be involved in the process, according to their plan.
“They were preparing to pick the new Head of State from among themselves,” he recounted.
Abubakar recalled presiding over the Provisional Ruling Council meeting that followed, in his capacity as Chief of Defence Staff and the most senior officer in the military hierarchy.
He said, “As the Chief of Defence Staff and next in hierarchy to the Commander-in-Chief, the No. 2 position was vacant following the removal of General Diya, over an alleged coup, I chaired the PRC meeting.
“I went home to change my tracksuit for the military uniform. After initial deliberations, I informed the meeting that one, General Abacha had passed away; two, the family wanted him to be buried in Kano; three, the CJN had advised that we could not leave a vacuum, hence the need to have a new Head of State.”
The deliberations, he said, quickly grew tense and lost focus.
“We began discussions and were not anywhere near reaching a conclusion. It was getting late. Someone who had his own idea complained that we all knew the tenets of Islam and instead of going to bury Abacha, we were busying talking about who was going to be the next Head of State.
“I immediately pointed out to him that it was not our idea but it was state protocol. We then agreed to break and go for the burial and converge afterwards,” he narrated.
The burial trip to Kano, Abubakar revealed, was engineered to keep him and other key actors away from Abuja while a succession plan was finalised in their absence.
According to him, “We went to Kano around 2am. Little did we know that the ‘inner caucus’ had got wind that something was fishy. They had left officers on the ground with instructions that they should not allow any drama.
“We did not sleep that night. We returned to Abuja around midnight and resumed that night. Little did we know that the burial was just a decoy to perfect whatever they had up their sleeves.
“While we were in Kano, they were already preparing to swear in their preferred choice, Admiral Mike Akhigbe, the Chief of Naval Staff, and Major-General Sarki Muktar, who was GOC of 1 Division, had got wind that something was fishy.”
Abubakar further described what he called a direct contest between himself and Bamaiyi for the position.
“All the GOCs, FOCs, AOCs and members of the PRC were in attendance. The PRC didn’t have civilian members but for the SGF and secretariat staff who were taking minutes of the meeting.
“There were people who wanted Major-General Bamaiyi to be the Head of State. Before we returned from Kano, some approached me to make a case for him but I waved them off. Still, Abacha recognised me as one of the insiders.
“The contest was directly between Lt-General Useni and me, being the two most senior officers in military affairs, although Useni was no longer involved in military affairs. I was senior to Bamaiyi but he was next in hierarchy as next in hierarchy. I was senior to Useni and me, being the two most senior officers in military affairs. I won the vote. That was how I became the 11th Nigerian Head of State,” he narrated.
Saturday’s event, themed ‘The Legacy of a Statesman @84,’ featured the public presentation of three books in honour of Gen. Abubakar’s 84th birthday.
They include ‘Call of Duty: An Autobiography of Gen. Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar,’ with a foreword by former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; ‘Nigeria’s Grand Patriot: Gen. Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar,’ reviewed by Professor Ussuji Medaner; and ‘Mediating for Peace in Africa: A Festschrift in Honour of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar,’ reviewed by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, CFR.
The event was chaired by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, with a keynote address on “Democratic Transition and Peace Building in Africa: The Place of General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar” delivered by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
The programme also featured the unveiling of the Abdulsalami Abubakar African Resource Centre.
Abacha died on June 8, 1998, after about five years in power that began in November 1993, months after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Abubakar, who succeeded him, oversaw Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule, handing over to President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.
News
Anambra Demolishes Collapsed Three-Storey Building, Warns Developers Against Substandard Construction
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State Government has issued a stern warning to developers and property owners, declaring that it will take decisive action against any individual whose building collapses due to the use of substandard materials or disregard for established building regulations.
The government reiterated its commitment to enforcing building standards and maintaining zero tolerance for unprofessional construction practices that endanger lives and property.
As part of this commitment, the state government has demolished a three-storey building under construction that collapsed in Umuoji, Idemili North Local Government Area.
The demolition, carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, followed technical assessments which deemed the structure unsafe and a threat to neighbouring residents and properties.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, said the action was in line with the government’s determination to ensure orderly urban development, public safety and strict compliance with approved building standards.
According to him, the demolition was intended to prevent future disasters rather than serve as punishment for the developer, stressing that the state would not tolerate distressed or unsafe structures.
The building, located in Umuoma Village, reportedly collapsed on May 18 while construction workers were on site. No casualties were recorded.
Preliminary investigations attributed the collapse to the use of substandard materials and poor construction practices, including stacking blocks before adequate curing and the use of inappropriate reinforcement materials.
Ojukwu disclosed that the project violated several building regulations, including failure to obtain necessary approvals, non-compliance with setback requirements and excessive development beyond the carrying capacity of the land.
He warned developers, contractors and property owners against flouting planning laws, noting that the ministry would intensify monitoring and enforcement activities across the state.
The commissioner further revealed that the government is reviewing existing laws to introduce tougher sanctions for erring developers, with criminal penalties among the options being considered.
He urged builders to engage qualified professionals and strictly adhere to regulatory requirements, while reaffirming the state’s commitment to urban renewal and infrastructure development projects, particularly in Nnewi and other growing urban centres.
The state government maintained that safeguarding lives and property remains a top priority and pledged continued enforcement of building regulations to prevent future incidents.
By Chinedu Sabastine
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, has inaugurated a Media Chat Committee to engage political office seekers and provide a platform for public scrutiny of candidates ahead of future elections in the state.
The initiative is designed to enable candidates of various political parties to present their manifestos, articulate their vision for governance, and demonstrate their preparedness for public office, with the aim of promoting credible representation at both state and national levels.
Inaugurating the committee at the NUJ Secretariat in Enugu on Wednesday, the State Chairman of the union, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, said the media chat programme would help assess the competence, capacity, and commitment of aspirants seeking elective positions.
According to him, the platform will afford journalists and members of the public the opportunity to interrogate the policies, programmes, and leadership qualities of candidates, thereby encouraging informed electoral choices and strengthening democratic governance.
“This committee was created to ensure that those seeking to lead our people prove they are worthy of the responsibility. Those aspiring for elective positions must demonstrate the capacity and competence required for leadership,” Ogbuka said.
He charged members of the committee to ensure that all candidates are given the opportunity to appear before the media and the public to showcase their readiness to serve.
“It will no longer be business as usual. Those who are not qualified to lead should not emerge through the electoral process without being subjected to public scrutiny,” he added.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the chairman of the committee, Comrade Emmanuel Ugwueze thanked the NUJ leadership for the confidence reposed in them and assured that the committee would discharge its responsibilities diligently and professionally.
Ugwueze stated that the union, as the umbrella body for all journalists and media organizations, should leverage the platform to reach and educate the wider public on their political rights and help reshape their mindset towards making informed choices when electing candidates to represent them
Members of the committee include Comrade Emmanuel Ugwueze, National Editor Daily Post, Comrade Lawrence Njoku, South East, Bc, Guardian Newspaper, Dr. Henry Atigwe, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Chinedu Adonu, Vanguard Correspondent, Bamidele Ajayi, TVC reporter, Ebele Somadinaogbu, Head of news, Dream FM, Chimaroke Ugwu, NTA reporter and others.
In a letter dated June 10, 2026, Kyari said he had previously written to the committee on May 8 and that the correspondence was received on May 11, informing lawmakers that he was abroad on medical grounds and unable to attend the hearing physically.
Kyari maintained that his absence was solely due to health reasons and not an attempt to obstruct the committee’s work, pledging his full cooperation with the investigation.
“I am deeply shocked by the issuance of the warrant, especially as I had earlier communicated with your committee via a letter dated and received on 11th May, 2026.
“In that letter, I informed the Committee that I was out of the country on medical grounds. I also expressed my willingness to honour the Committee’s invitation as soon as I return to Nigeria,” Kyari wrote
The former NNPC boss added that he had offered to respond to any questions from the committee in writing to avoid delaying its work.
“I wish to reiterate that I remain very willing and ready to honour the invitation of the Committee and to appear before it once I return to the country and at the convenience of the committee,” he stated.
In the earlier letter dated May 8, 2026, Kyari said he was unaware of any formal invitation before learning of the committee’s directive that he appear before lawmakers over issues relating to NNPCL’s accounts during his tenure.
“Unfortunately, I am presently outside the country undergoing critical medical care and, due to these circumstances, I am unable to attend physically at this time.”
Kyari also requested that any questions from the committee be forwarded through his legal representatives to enable him to provide clarifications while receiving treatment abroad.
He further defended his stewardship at NNPCL, stating that proper records of all transactions undertaken during his tenure were maintained and remained available within the company for verification.
“I remain deeply grateful to my country for the opportunity afforded me to serve with utmost diligence and commitment,” he said, adding that all transactions carried out during his tenure were properly documented and available for scrutiny.
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts had issued the arrest warrant after Kyari failed to appear before it during an ongoing probe of NNPCL’s financial records and transactions. The committee is examining issues relating to more than ₦210 trillion in financial dealings.
The motion for the warrant was moved by Senator Victor Umeh and seconded by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
The committee is investigating 19 audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation concerning NNPCL’s financial records between 2017 and 2023, including allegations that N210 trillion could not be properly accounted for.
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