By Uzair Adam

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is weaponizing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to target political opponents.

Atiku made the claim while reacting to the detention of former Sokoto State Governor and Senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, describing it as part of a broader plan to “harass, intimidate, and decimate” members of the opposition coalition.

He stated that, “The only reason the EFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition Coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to intimidate the opposition.”

The former Vice President, who played a key role in establishing the EFCC during his tenure, accused the commission of abandoning its core anti-corruption mandate to serve political purposes.

He alleged that opposition leaders were being targeted with “phantom” corruption allegations, only to be absolved once they defect to the ruling party.

Atiku warned that such practices undermine institutional integrity and fuel corruption, pointing to what he called a “growing trend” of using anti-corruption agencies to pressure governors and political leaders into joining the ruling party.

While expressing support for a genuine anti-corruption fight, Atiku urged Nigerians, civil society groups, and the international community to resist “anti-democratic machinations” aimed at creating a one-party state.

“We will never succumb to these tactics. The use of anti-corruption agencies as a political agenda must be roundly condemned,” he added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has begun probing the sudden death of a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Dambam Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased, identified as 28-year-old Nwokedi Chukwuebuka, was reportedly found unconscious in the early hours of Sunday in an apartment provided for corps members in the community.

The accommodation was arranged by his colleagues and the Corps Liaison Officer (CLO).

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ahmed Waziri, confirmed the incident during a telephone interview on Monday.

He said the Commissioner of Police had ordered a preliminary investigation into the matter.

“The command received a complaint of sudden and natural death on August 10, 2025, at about 9:20am.

“The Dambam LGA Corps Liaison Officer came to the Dambam Divisional Police Headquarters and reported that on the same date at about 8:30am, all corps members who were Christians serving in the LGA were preparing for Sunday church services when they noticed that Nwokedi Chukwuebuka, with state code number BA/25A/2069, did not wake up,” Waziri stated.

According to him, “The CLO went to wake him up but discovered that he was not breathing. He reported the matter to the police station. The CP, Sani Aliu, directed the DPO to visit the scene.

“The corps member was taken to the hospital, where a medical doctor certified him dead, as enshrined in international best practices. The body was later deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Azare, mortuary.”

Waziri further noted that the CP had instructed a thorough preliminary investigation, which is still in progress.

A similar case occurred in Adamawa State in 2023 when a corps member named Samuel reportedly slumped and died while watching a football match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

By Uzair Adam 

The Kano State Police Command has announced a ban on the operation of tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, by underage individuals within the Kano metropolis.

Spokesperson of the Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a video he posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, said the decision followed a disturbing increase in accidents linked to underage riders. 

He added that the practice was responsible for 16 serious but preventable crashes, resulting in injuries and damage to property.

Kiyawa further noted that the Command has observed a growing trend of road users disregarding traffic lights and other regulations, a development he described as a major cause of avoidable accidents and traffic gridlock in the state.

He warned that riding tricycles by underage persons remains prohibited under the law and poses serious risks to both the riders and other road users. 

Parents and guardians, he stressed, must stop allowing their children to operate tricycles, as offenders—both the riders and the owners—will face severe penalties.

“All road users must obey traffic lights and other traffic regulations. The Command will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating traffic laws to ensure the safety and security of road users,” the statement added. 

He noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, assured residents of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property. 

He said enforcement teams have been deployed and urged members of the public to report underage tricycle riding, reckless driving, or other traffic offences to the nearest police station or via 08032419754, 08123821575, and 09029292926.

By Zekeri Idakwo Laruba 

‎In every thriving democracy, journalists are the soul of public accountability, the guardians of truth, and the voice of the voiceless. In Nigeria, the people won independence without a single bullet being fired. 

‎But decades later, the same pens have become symbols of struggle, silence, and survival. The Nigerian journalist today is overworked, underpaid, and largely forgotten.

‎From the courage of Dele Giwa to the frontline sacrifices made during military regimes, Nigerian journalists have risked, and even lost, their lives in service to the nation. But rather than being celebrated, many of them now live in poverty, working without insurance, health care, decent pay, or professional protection.

‎The profession that once produced national heroes is now filled with invisible men and women, reporters who go out daily with no transport allowance, editors who cannot afford basic medication, and photojournalists who cover events on empty stomachs. 

‎At some press events, journalists are reduced to scrambling for food or transport stipends. The humiliation is not just individual; it is institutional. In 2020, the nation witnessed the public verbal assault of Eyo Charles, a Daily Trust journalist, by a former minister, Femi Fani-Kayode. 

‎His only crime? Asking a legitimate question. That moment, broadcast across the country, exposed the vulnerability of journalists and how little value some political elites attach to press freedom. Many media professionals now survive on meagre and inconsistent pay. 

‎In some private media organisations, reporters work for months without a salary and still carry personal costs to cover assignments. Few private media organisations provide welfare and accommodation for their staff, despite struggling to maintain steady revenue streams. Government-owned outlets, while slightly better, still offer limited welfare support in the face of inflation and economic downturns.

‎The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and other professional bodies have become mainly toothless. While they occasionally issue press statements in moments of outrage, their long-term effectiveness remains questionable. 

‎Advocacy is weak, reforms are slow, and protection is minimal. Journalists are left to fend for themselves in a system that no longer honours them. What is even more tragic is that many journalists report every day on injustice and neglect, yet rarely report their own. 

‎The irony is cruel. And so is the silence. Yet, the survival of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the survival of journalism. If journalists are weak, the truth is endangered. If they are compromised, the nation drifts into ignorance. 

‎It is not enough to speak about press freedom; we must act to protect the people behind the stories. To restore dignity and professionalism in the Nigerian media space, urgent reforms must be pursued. First, the Federal Government, in collaboration with media owners and unions, must establish a National Media Welfare Fund. 

‎This fund should provide emergency support, health insurance, and affordable housing for journalists. It will serve as a safety net for media workers in distress. Second, there must be legislative protection through the passage of a Journalist Protection and Welfare Bill, which will address workplace rights, ethical standards, job security, and compensation for risks undertaken in the line of duty.

‎Third, an independent Press Freedom and Redress Commission should be established to investigate harassment, unlawful detention, and abuse of journalists. This commission will serve as a watchdog against both state and private offenders.

‎Fourth, support for independent media startups and community-based journalism should be expanded. Through grants, training, and infrastructure, we can nurture new media platforms that prioritise public interest over politics or profit.

‎Lastly, the NUJ and NGE must reform themselves. They must earn back the trust of their members by becoming more transparent, democratic, and responsive. The time for docile leadership in journalism is over.

‎Of course, journalists must also hold themselves accountable. Ethical journalism is not optional. They must resist the temptation of brown envelopes, fact-check relentlessly, and report with clarity, compassion, and courage. The profession must regain its honour by defending the truth, not selling it.

‎The pen that once won our independence still holds the power to shape our future. But only if it is wielded with integrity, and supported with justice. Until we build a media system where journalists can live with dignity, we remain a country that praises democracy while neglecting those who protect it. 

‎A free press without empowered journalists is an illusion. And Nigeria deserves better.

‎‎Zekeri Idakwo Laruba is the Assistant Editor of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential. He can be reached via idakwozekeri93@gmail.com.

By Anas Abbas

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has announced the immediate dissolution of the State Executive Council.

This decision was communicated through a statement released by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, on Sunday night.

As part of the transition, all affected Commissioners and Special Advisers have been instructed to hand over their responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary or the most senior civil servant within their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Governor Oyebanji expressed his gratitude to the outgoing members of the Executive Council, wishing them success in their future endeavors.

Notably, the dissolution does not extend to certain key positions.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice will remain in office, along with several other Commissioners including those overseeing Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Works, Trade, Investment, Industry and Cooperatives.

Additionally, Special Advisers on Special Education and Social Inclusion, as well as Lands, Survey, and e-GIS, will also retain their roles.

Also, all directors general who are members of the State executive council will keep their positions.

This includes the director general of the office of transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), the director general of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and project monitoring, and the director general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

This restructuring marks a new chapter in Ekiti State’s governance as it prepares for future initiatives.

By Uzair Adam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Strategic Command, has arrested a 23-year-old suspected notorious drug dealer, Faisal Yusuf-Umar, in Fagge Local Government Area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, disclosed this in a statement issued in Kano on Sunday, saying the arrest followed a targeted surveillance operation prompted by community complaints about the suspect’s alleged illicit activities.

“On July 18, NDLEA operatives attached to the Fagge Area Command carried out a strategic operation at the suspect’s residence in Dandali, Fagge Local Government Area.

“A significant quantity of controlled substances was recovered, including 40 bottles (4kg) of Benylin with Codeine and cash amounting to N204,000,” Muhammad-Maigatari said.Quoting the State Strategic Commander, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, he noted that the arrest demonstrated NDLEA’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks across Kano.

“This operation is part of our broader strategy to take down drug dealers who pose a serious threat to the health and safety of our communities,” Idris-Ahmad said, adding, “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure Kano remains safe and drug-free.”

The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to support the ongoing fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

By Gambo Zilkifilu Mohammed

The turquoise waters off Yemen’s coast, often a beacon of hope for thousands fleeing despair, have once again become a graveyard. In a chilling echo of tragedies past, more than 140 African migrants are feared dead after their overcrowded boat capsized late Saturday night on one of the world’s most perilous journeys, the so-called “Eastern Route” to survival.

Imagine the desperation that drives you onto a fragile vessel, crammed shoulder to shoulder with strangers, knowing the journey could end beneath the waves. For at least 74 souls, that nightmare became reality. 

They are missing, vanished into the vastness of the sea. The cruel waves have already surrendered 68 bodies to the shores of Abyan province in southern Yemen, a grim testament to the disaster. Only 12 shattered survivors bear witness to the final, terrifying moments.

These weren’t just numbers

They were individuals, mostly young Ethiopians, carrying the crushing weight of poverty, conflict, or climate-driven devastation back home. 

They clung to the fragile dream of menial work in the glittering Gulf states—a chance to feed families, build a future, survive. Yemen, itself ravaged by a decade of brutal civil war, famine, and disease, was never their destination, merely a deadly transit point on a path paved with broken promises.

“Many of the bodies have been found scattered along various parts of the coastline,” authorities in Abyan posted somberly on Facebook, sharing images that revealed a haunting truth: most had no life vests.

 They were utterly defenceless against the indifferent sea. Abdusattor Esoev, head of the UN’s International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Yemen, pointed the finger squarely at the ruthless calculus of human smuggling: “The underlying cause… is due to smugglers filling boats over capacity and not providing enough life vests on board.” Profit over people, yet again.

This latest catastrophe is not an isolated horror. It’s part of a relentless, bloody pattern. Just four months ago, in March, at least 188 migrants drowned in similar circumstances between Yemen and Djibouti. The Eastern Route consumes lives with terrifying regularity.

Why do they keep coming?

 Because the alternative, staying in communities gripped by violence, starved by drought, or hollowed out by poverty,  feels like a slower death. They gamble everything for a sliver of hope. Yet, reaching Yemen offers no sanctuary. The country, fractured by war between the Houthis and the internationally recognised government, is a lethal labyrinth. Migrants face not only the sea’s fury but also airstrikes, exploitation, trafficking, and detention. Remember April? When US-made bombs obliterated a migrant detention centre in Saada, killing at least 60 souls who had already survived the crossing?

Many who do survive the voyage find themselves trapped in Yemen’s nightmare borders closed, opportunities vanished, preyed upon by smugglers demanding ransom, and subjected to abuse. The dream of the Gulf becomes a cruel mirage, replaced by a daily struggle for survival in a land consumed by its own suffering. 

The bodies washing ashore near Abyan are more than a statistic; they are a searing indictment. They represent the crushing weight of global inequality, the failure to protect the most vulnerable, and the deadly consequences of conflicts and climate crises they did not create. Each recovered body leaves a family across the Red Sea shrouded in agonising uncertainty, waiting for news that may never come. The waves took their lives, but the world’s indifference drowns their hopes.

 How many more mothers must mourn before this deadly exodus is met not with apathy, but with action?

By Uzair Adam

Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has Saturday died at the age of 78.

In a statement issued the same day, the Ogbeh family said the elder statesman died peacefully.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather; Chief Audu Ogbeh. He passed away today at the fulfilled age of 78,” the family said.

They described him as a man of integrity, service, and dedication to the nation and his community, noting that his life left an enduring impact on many.

“We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the example he set,” the statement added.

The family said funeral arrangements will be announced later and expressed gratitude to friends, colleagues, and well-wishers for their prayers and support.

They also requested privacy during the mourning period.

By Uzair Adam

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has urged 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to reconsider his vow to serve only one term if elected in 2027, warning that Nigeria’s political landscape often makes such commitments difficult to fulfil.

Obi has consistently maintained that he would be content with a single term in office, but Sule cautioned that the realities of governance and the influence of vested interests could force a change in such plans.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Friday, Sule noted that while a president might begin with the intention of serving for just one term, the pressures from political stakeholders could make the plan unrealistic.

“Peter Obi might say he wants to do one term, but it is not up to him,” Sule said. “Once he assumes office, powerful interests will pressure him, saying, ‘It’s our turn; you cannot do that to us,’ or even threaten legal action.”

Turning to the current administration’s performance, Sule commended President Bola Tinubu for economic reforms and efforts to bolster national security.

He highlighted the rise of Nigeria’s foreign reserves to about $40 billion and an increase in oil production from around 1.1 million to 1.8 million barrels per day as notable achievements.

“This government is indeed going in the right direction,” he said, while acknowledging that insecurity remains a challenge.

Sule called on governors and local government chairmen to use improved revenues to directly address the hardships citizens face.

By Abubakar Musa Idris

I will never forget the 2015 elections. The chants of “Sai Baba!” were everywhere. We had fallen in love with a man. To us, he wasn’t just Muhammadu Buhari—he was Baba, the man who had captured the imagination of a weary nation. 

In those moments, Nigerians didn’t just vote for a candidate; they believed in a symbol, a promise that something better was possible. As the election results came in, I sat glued to the television, pen and paper in hand. 

Each state collation felt like history unfolding. There was electricity in the air—a kind of national awakening. It wasn’t just that we were watching a man become president; it was the quiet miracle of a peaceful democratic transition. We believed we were witnessing the rebirth of our nation.

Baba had his flaws, like every human being. But I will never forget what he did for agriculture, for infrastructure, and most especially for security. As a son of Yobe, I saw firsthand the fear that once gripped our people—the empty markets, the shuttered schools, the silence that replaced the sound of daily life. 

But I also saw how things slowly began to change. Soldiers came. Communities began to breathe again. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. It was hope. In agriculture, the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme lifted countless farmers. The vision of feeding ourselves, of restoring dignity to rural life, started to take root. 

In infrastructure, we saw roads, rails, and power projects long spoken about finally begin to materialise. You didn’t need a policy paper to understand it—you just had to look outside your window. But what stayed with me most was his integrity. In a land where power often corrupts, Baba remained astonishingly simple. No long convoys, no palatial estates. 

Just his home in Daura, another in Kaduna, and a reputation built not on wealth, but on character. He reminded us that leadership doesn’t have to be loud or luxurious to be meaningful. Now that he’s gone, we mourn not just a man, but an era. Baba showed us that leadership could be humble, disciplined, and deeply patriotic. 

He may have left Aso Rock, but his footprints remain in our fields, our roads, our memory. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him al-jannah firdaus. Nigeria will never forget Sai Baba.