By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to release former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai if the President has operational authority over anti-corruption agencies.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the demand after Tinubu directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court and withdraw an order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.

El-Rufai has remained in ICPC custody since February 19 over allegations of financial impropriety linked to his eight-year tenure as Kaduna governor between 2015 and 2023.

The former governor was arraigned before the Kaduna High Court on April 13 on an amended nine-count charge that included allegations of fraud and abuse of office.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, questioned the claim that the EFCC acted independently in the Osun case.

Tinubu had on Thursday ordered the anti-graft agency to seek the withdrawal of the freezing order. The President said the EFCC had acted within its legal powers but considered the timing of the action inappropriate because it came shortly before the August 15 governorship election.

Atiku argued that the presidential intervention had raised doubts about repeated claims that the EFCC operates independently.

He also questioned the President’s reference to a court order, saying the EFCC did not mention such an order in its explanation for freezing the accounts.

“President Tinubu’s statement has raised more questions than it has answered,” Atiku said.

“While the EFCC’s official statement painstakingly explained why it froze the Osun State Government’s account, it made no mention whatsoever of obtaining a court order.

“Yet the President’s intervention is predicated entirely on the existence of such a court order, which he claims to have directed the EFCC to vacate.

“If indeed there was a court order, why did the EFCC omit such a fundamental fact from its official account? If there was none, then the President has introduced into the public discourse a legal process that exists nowhere in the EFCC’s own narrative.”

‘TINUBU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS’

Atiku said the President could not maintain that he does not interfere in the EFCC’s activities while also issuing a directive that affects an ongoing action by the commission.

“He cannot claim that he neither knew of nor interferes in the operations of the EFCC and, in the very next breath, announce that he has directed the commission to discontinue its action and return to court,” he said.

“If the EFCC promptly complies with that directive, then Nigerians have before them undeniable proof that the commission is not as operationally independent as the President wants the country to believe.”

Atiku Demands Same Intervention For El-Rufai

The ADC presidential candidate said Tinubu’s intervention in the Osun matter should apply equally to the case involving El-Rufai.

“Having now demonstrated that he can issue direct operational directives to anti-corruption agencies whenever he considers it expedient, President Tinubu owes Nigerians an explanation as to why he cannot exercise the same authority in the case of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,” he said.

“If he can direct the EFCC to discontinue its action today, then he cannot pretend to be powerless over the actions of the ICPC tomorrow.

“Executive power cannot be invoked selectively for political convenience while institutional independence is cited only when it suits the Presidency.”

Atiku said the controversy had implications for public confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption bodies and the rule of law.

He acknowledged that reversing the freezing of the Osun government’s accounts could ease political tension ahead of the governorship election but said the decision did not resolve questions surrounding the original action.

“The unanswered questions remain: who authorised the freezing of the account of an opposition-controlled state just days before a governorship election, and why was such an extraordinary action taken at such a politically sensitive moment?” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused food products with a combined street value of N373.8 million at the TinCan Island Port in Lagos.

The seizures were recorded during recent anti-smuggling operations carried out by the TinCan Island Port Command, according to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.

Adeniyi disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing, where he explained that customs officers discovered concealed components of pump-action rifles inside a container on July 8.

He said officers had so far assembled 140 rifles from the recovered components, while work was still underway to put together the remaining parts.

The customs chief also disclosed that a principal suspect was arrested on July 31 at a bonded terminal while trying to facilitate the release of the container.

According to Adeniyi, financial and telecommunications records obtained during the investigation established links between the suspect and the shipment.

He said two suspects were in custody and assisting investigators, while another principal suspect remained at large and was being pursued by security agencies.

Customs Intercepts Cannabis-Infused Food

The NCS also announced the interception of two 40-foot containers containing cannabis-infused products concealed among imported goods such as vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.

According to Adeniyi, the items included 8,720 Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies weighing 17.44 kilogrammes and valued at N308.7 million.

Customs officers also recovered 740 packs of cannabis-infused gummies weighing 515.2 kilogrammes and worth N40.7 million.

Another seizure involved 873 cartons containing 442 packs of cannabis-infused cookies. The products weighed 309.4 kilogrammes and were valued at N24.3 million.

Adeniyi put the total street value of the cannabis-infused products at N373.8 million.

He said the products were packaged in ways that made them appear like regular snacks. Some carried flavours such as citrus, vanilla, pine and peach pie.

According to him, the presentation could make the products particularly appealing to children, students and other young people, with unsuspecting consumers at risk of taking cannabis without knowing it.

Adeniyi commended Joseph Anani, the TinCan Island Port area controller, as well as officers of the command’s enforcement unit for their vigilance and professionalism.

He also reaffirmed the customs service’s determination to protect Nigeria’s borders and ensure that people involved in the movement of illicit firearms and dangerous drugs face prosecution.

The CGC acknowledged the cooperation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and called on Nigerians to provide credible information that could assist authorities in tackling smuggling.

NDLEA Raises Public Safety Concern

Receiving the seized products, Augustine Adewunmi, commander of narcotics at the NDLEA TinCan Strategic Command, described cannabis-infused cookies, gummies and smoothies as an emerging public safety concern.

Adewunmi said the products were imported from the United States and presented as vegan snacks with flavours such as citrus, vanilla and peach to disguise their true nature.

He warned that their packaging and presentation appeared designed to attract children, students and clubgoers, which could increase the possibility of accidental consumption.

The NDLEA commander said two suspects had been arrested and that investigations were continuing.

He urged parents, schools and members of the public to exercise caution, noting that consumption of the products could introduce concentrated cannabis into the body.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Residents of Benue State have expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure development agenda as a presidential media team concluded an inspection tour of key federal and state projects across the region on Thursday.

The delegation, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, inspected several ongoing and completed infrastructure projects, including the Buruku-Logo Bridge, the Wurukum Overhead Bridge in Makurdi, and the 22-kilometre Makurdi-Gboko Road, which forms part of the Phase II Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Expressway.

The tour, organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors with over 40 editors and journalists in attendance, aims to independently assess and document the implementation of key projects under President Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking during the inspection, Onanuga emphasised that the Buruku-Logo Bridge is one of five federal bridges under construction in Benue State, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to utilising borrowed funds for productive infrastructure development.

“This bridge in particular is the fifth bridge the Federal Government is building in Benue State. I think as Nigerians you see that the government has been accused of so many things including taking loans. You can now see where the money is going,” Onanuga stated.

He noted that the 1,754-metre bridge, expected to be completed by December 2027, would reconnect previously isolated communities, reduce travel time, and improve market access for farmers across Benue, Taraba, and Adamawa states.

Residents of the host communities expressed appreciation for the projects, describing the bridge as a “life-saving intervention” that would end years of dangerous river crossings and reduce frequent boat accidents during rainy seasons.

The inspection also covered the 25.6-kilometre Captain Dan Road to the Tor Tiv Palace, the Food Basket Brewery Limited, and the federally-funded rehabilitation of the Buruku-Gboko Water Treatment Plant at Ameladu Headworks.

Benue State Deputy Governor, Dr Samuel Ode, who accompanied the team, commended the Federal Government’s investments and expressed confidence that residents would support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

“Actually, this road serves as the gateway between the north of the country and the south. Before now we used to have a heavy gridlock here especially during festivities, so the governor of Benue State approached Mr. President for us to have an overhead bridge here,” Ode said regarding the Wurukum Overhead Bridge project.

“The President in his magnanimity, graciously approved the construction of this overhead bridge. So work has commenced, moving at a very high speed and the people of Benue are happy.”

The tour showcased projects financed through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, with officials assuring that funding remains adequate for timely completion.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress has questioned the independence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after President Bola Tinubu directed the agency to return to court and withdraw its order freezing the bank accounts of the Osun State Government.

The opposition party said the President’s directive had raised concerns about the extent of executive influence over the anti-corruption agency.

Tinubu had on Thursday ordered the EFCC to immediately return to court to vacate the order freezing the state government’s accounts.

The President said the commission acted within its legal powers but faulted the timing of the action, which came days before the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Tinubu said he felt “deeply embarrassed” by the development because actions taken by federal agencies are often associated with the presidency. He also said no action should create an impression that the Federal Government was attempting to influence the outcome of the election.

The EFCC had earlier defended the freezing of the accounts. The commission said it was investigating alleged mismanagement of ecological and intervention funds by the Osun State Government and had detected suspicious transfers during the investigation.

The commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, also described the action as a routine measure and rejected claims that it was politically motivated. He cited a similar restriction placed on the accounts of the Edo State Government before its 2024 governorship election.

Reacting to the President’s directive in a statement on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, welcomed the decision but said Tinubu’s explanation had created additional questions.

“What we find most curious about the statement is the President’s repeated reference to an alleged court order authorising the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts,” he said.

“In all of its public statements on this matter, the EFCC never once claimed that it had obtained a court order. The commission consistently defended its actions on the basis of its statutory powers and what it described as its ‘preventive mandate’.

“At no point did it inform Nigerians that a court had authorised its actions. The obvious question, therefore, is: where did the President obtain the information that a court order existed? If such an order exists, why was it never mentioned by the EFCC in its statement while defending one of the most controversial actions it has taken in recent times?

“If no such order exists, why would the president introduce one into the public narrative? It is either the president was misinformed or he had chosen to misrepresent the facts. Either possibility is deeply disturbing.”

The ADC also said the President’s admission that he directed the EFCC to withdraw the matter from court appeared inconsistent with claims that anti-corruption agencies operate independently.

“The President also insists that he does not interfere in the operational activities of anti-corruption agencies, yet in the same statement he publicly announces that he has directed the EFCC to approach the court, vacate the alleged order, and discontinue its case,” Abdullahi said.

“If the President possesses the authority to direct the EFCC to withdraw from court proceedings because the political consequences may affect an election, then it follows that he possesses the authority to direct the commission in other operational matters as well.

“The net implication is that the carefully cultivated argument that these agencies operate entirely independently collapses under the weight of the President’s own statement.”

The dispute comes less than two weeks before the August 15 Osun State governorship election, which has heightened political attention around actions involving the state government and federal institutions.

The ADC said the circumstances surrounding the account freeze and the subsequent presidential directive required further clarification from the Federal Government and the EFCC.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two men, including the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery, over an alleged plot to exhume a recently buried corpse and steal its casket for financial gain.

The suspects were identified as Nsikak Effiong and Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery in Nsit-Ibom Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Thursday.

According to the police, the incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday after a vigilant operative noticed two men moving a casket on an unregistered motorcycle within the cemetery.

The operative reportedly confronted the men, prompting one of them, identified as Effiong Asuquo, to flee. His accomplice, Nsikak Effiong, was apprehended and handed over to the police.

The police said questioning of Effiong led to the discovery that the suspects had allegedly dug up a recently buried corpse, removed the body from its casket and taken away the casket for sale.

The police subsequently recovered the empty casket and the unregistered motorcycle allegedly used to transport it.

“During interrogation, Nsikak Effiong confessed that he and his accomplice had unlawfully exhumed a freshly buried corpse, removed the corpse from the casket, and stolen the casket with the intention of selling it for financial gain.

“The police recovered the empty casket as well as the unregistered motorcycle used in conveying the stolen property, while investigations were immediately expanded to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the crime and identify all persons connected to the act.

“Further investigation yielded another breakthrough on August 5, 2026, at about 5:00 p.m., with the arrest of one Elijah Matthew Edet, the manager of Mbiokporo Cemetery. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to conspiring with the grave diggers in the commission of the offence and stated that it was his first involvement in such criminal activity,” the statement said.

The police said Edet was arrested on Wednesday after investigators expanded their inquiry into the alleged offence.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, condemned the incident and described it as barbaric, sacrilegious and morally reprehensible.

He also directed the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify everyone linked to the alleged crime and ensure that suspects face prosecution in line with the law.

Azare commended the operative whose vigilance led to the interception of the suspects and recovery of the casket.

The command urged residents to remain alert and provide the police with credible information that could assist in preventing crime.

The police said investigations were still ongoing, while efforts were underway to arrest the fleeing suspect.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of a 47-year-old man, Ugochukwu Eze, popularly known as “Amazon,” over allegations of hacking into Suntrust Bank Plc’s computer system and diverting more than N800 million.

Eze was arraigned before Justice Friday Ogazi on Thursday by operatives of the Department of State Services over alleged cybercrime and money laundering offences.

The DSS, through its counsel, M. Bajela, told the court that Eze and other suspects still at large allegedly conspired between 2023 and 2026 to interfere unlawfully with the bank’s computer system.

The prosecution alleged that the scheme resulted in the diversion of over N800 million belonging to Suntrust Bank into several accounts.

Bajela further accused the defendant of concealing and transferring funds allegedly connected to cyberattacks on financial institutions. He also alleged that Eze unlawfully accessed critical national financial information infrastructure.

The prosecution said the alleged offences violated Sections 5, 6(1), and 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, as well as Sections 10, 20, and 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Eze, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the plea, the DSS asked the court to schedule the matter for trial and remand the defendant pending the determination of the case.

Defence counsel, E. Afrogha, told the court that a bail application had already been filed. He also informed the court that Eze had spent more than one month in DSS custody.

Bajela responded that the prosecution had not received the bail application. He added that the prosecution’s witnesses were prepared to testify.

Justice Ogazi subsequently adjourned the case until August 24 for the hearing of the bail application.

The judge also ordered that Eze be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

One of the charges against the defendant reads:

“That you, Ugochukwu Eze, alias Amazon, sometime between 2023 and 2026 in Lagos and other places within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully hindered the function of Suntrust Bank Plc’s computer system and, in the process, fraudulently diverted over N800m belonging to the bank,”

The prosecution said the alleged offence is punishable under Section 8 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.

The case was adjourned to August 24 for the court to consider the defendant’s request for bail.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately vacate a court order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government, citing concerns over the timing of the action just days before the state’s gubernatorial election.

The President issued the directive on Thursday, August 6, 2026, following the EFCC’s successful application for a court order on August 5, freezing the state government’s accounts.

In a statement from the State House, President Tinubu expressed deep embarrassment over the development, though he clarified that his discomfort was not with the EFCC’s statutory mandate but with the timing of the agency’s action.

“Since assuming office, I have consistently maintained that anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies must be allowed to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, professionally, without fear or favour, or political interference,” the President stated.

Tinubu emphasized his deliberate policy of non-interference in the operational activities of investigative and prosecutorial agencies, describing strong democratic institutions operating within the confines of the law as indispensable to good governance and the rule of law.

However, the President noted that while he had not been fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court, the timing was “inauspicious,” warranting his intervention.

“Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the federal government is being used to interfere with the election,” Tinubu stated.

The President directed the EFCC to “immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government.”

The intervention comes as political tensions rise in Osun State ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election, with opposition parties and civil society groups closely monitoring federal agencies’ activities in the state.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

A highly anticipated publishing deal worth more than $2 million for Nigerian author Jerry Falade has collapsed after allegations that artificial intelligence (AI) may have been used in the creation of his debut crime novel, Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body.

The manuscript had attracted intense interest from publishers, with a 14-way bidding contest reportedly leading to a multimillion-dollar offer from a major U.S. publisher. However, Falade’s literary agents withdrew the novel after stating they could no longer verify that the manuscript had been written without AI assistance.

Falade has strongly denied the allegations, insisting that he wrote the novel himself. He has also argued that the accusations reflect racial bias within the publishing industry, claiming that Black authors face greater scrutiny over AI use than their white counterparts.

The controversy has sparked fresh debate about the growing role of AI in creative writing and the challenges publishers face in verifying the originality of manuscripts. It also highlights increasing concerns within the global publishing industry over authorship, copyright, and the ethical use of generative AI.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

Samira Isah Modibbo, a dedicated advocate for women, children, and survivors of gender-based violence, has passed away. She died on the night of Wednesday, August 5, 2026, after a prolonged battle with sickle-cell disease.

Known for her powerful voice and writing, Modibbo spent her life championing justice, compassion, and dignity for the most vulnerable members of society. Her advocacy touched many lives, and she is remembered for her unwavering commitment to social justice.

Funeral prayers (Jana’iza) were held at 9:00 AM at No. 16 Kangiwa Road (Layin Asibitin MSK), Makarfi Road, Rigasa, Kaduna. Her burial was conducted according to Islamic rites.

The community and several other loved ones, including those on social media, continue to pray for her soul, asking Allah (SWT) to forgive her shortcomings, bestow His mercy upon her, make her grave a garden among the gardens of Paradise, and grant her Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Anthony Adeosun, husband of former Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, has passed away at the age of 62.

According to an official statement issued by the family, Mr Adeosun died on Wednesday. Further details regarding the cause of death have not yet been disclosed by the family.

In their statement, the family requested privacy as they grieve the loss of their patriarch and noted that details regarding funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Kemi Adeosun served as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance from November 2015 until her resignation in September 2018. 

Messages of condolence from public officials, political associates, and well-wishers have begun pouring in to comfort the former minister and her family during this difficult period.