Nigeria

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze over allegations that he operated a fake government agency within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The directive followed fresh findings from an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into alleged fake government agencies and weaknesses in public service procedures.

The President also ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries in connection with the latest findings from the investigation.

The development forms part of ongoing efforts to address alleged irregularities within government offices and strengthen accountability in the public service.

According to the report, the investigation uncovered concerns linked to the alleged operation of a fictitious government agency within the OSGF premises.

Further details on the identities of the suspended permanent secretaries and the specific findings against them were not provided in the report.

TheCable said more information would follow as further details emerge.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has raised the alarm over the alleged recruitment of minors by criminal gangs to assist in traffic robbery operations across Abuja.

The command said some of the children, who often disguise themselves as beggars, are allegedly paid between ₦500 and ₦1,000 after helping adult members of the gangs steal from motorists caught in traffic.

The FCT Commissioner of Police disclosed this during an engagement with residents, where he explained that the children are used to divert the attention of drivers while other members of the gangs target their valuables.

According to him, the minors approach motorists under the guise of seeking financial assistance, while their accomplices use the distraction to steal from another side of the vehicle.

“These children are being recruited by these bigger ones. They would be the ones that would stop the vehicle or approach you as if they are begging you for something, distracting you so that when you are paying attention to them, these other ones would be stealing from the other side of your vehicle,” he said.

The commissioner said the children receive small payments after successful operations.

“They just meet these people that if they are able to steal anything, they will just give them ₦500 or ₦1,000 for them to go and eat,” he stated.

He also disclosed that some traffic robbery incidents have resulted in serious injuries to victims.

The police chief cited the case of a woman who allegedly lost part of her ear after a robber attempted to remove her earring.

“We have gotten some of them that were responsible for removing a woman’s ear because they went to remove her earring. They pulled it and the ear was cut,” he said.

The commissioner further alleged that some of the minors were brought into Abuja from other states and left there to participate in criminal activities.

“Unfortunately, most of these children were brought in from another state and dumped here for just this purpose,” he claimed.

He explained that the police cannot prosecute the minors in the same manner as adult suspects because of their age.

Instead, the command is working with social welfare authorities to rehabilitate them and facilitate their return to their families.

“When you get them, because of their age, you can’t take them to court. But we already have a place for them with the social welfare so that they can be rehabilitated and reunited with their families,” the commissioner explained.

He added that the police sometimes obtain information from the children to trace the adults suspected of controlling the operations.

“We also talk to them and give them the same ₦1,000 or ₦500 to tell us who is sending them to do the job,” he said.

The police warning comes amid concerns over traffic-related robbery and the alleged exploitation of children in parts of the FCT.

The command said the allegations remain under investigation, while stressing the need to protect and rehabilitate minors involved rather than treating them in the same manner as adult criminals.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have opened investigations into the management of a N12bn intervention fund released by the Federal Government to the Nigeria Football Federation.

The fund was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding wages, allowances and bonuses owed to members of Nigeria’s national teams.

A source familiar with the investigation told journalists on Thursday that some officials connected to the matter had been invited by the anti-corruption agencies and had made statements.

“They have been under our radar before now. We invited some officials over to our offices, and they gave their statements. Presently, they are on administrative bail. We have not ended our investigation,” the source said.

The development came to light through a response issued by the NFF to a request for access to financial records and utilisation documents linked to the fund.

The response was contained in a letter signed by Onoja Joshua, Esq., on behalf of the NFF General Secretary. The letter was dated August 18, 2026, and addressed to the Principal Partner of Cromwell & Okeke.

The law firm had earlier written to the federation on August 7, 2026, with the correspondence received by the NFF on August 11.

The request, made under the Freedom of Information Act, sought financial records and other documents relating to the N12bn intervention fund reportedly released for the payment of players’ wages and bonuses.

The federation, however, declined to provide the documents, citing the ongoing investigations by the EFCC and ICPC.

“I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and your correspondence dated 7th August, 2026 but received on 11th August, 2026,” the letter stated.

“It is my instruction to inform you that the subject matter of the request under the Freedom of Information Act is subject of investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

“Therefore, all documents relating to the request are before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.”

The Federal Government had announced the release of the N12bn in January 2024, shortly before the Super Eagles began their campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

A statement from President Tinubu’s Media Centre said the intervention covered outstanding salaries owed to coaches of the senior national team, as well as allowances and other payments due to several national teams.

“President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12bn outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others,” the statement read.

“The payment entails the clearing of the senior national team coaches’ salaries running up to 15 months, payments of allowances and promises due to the senior national teams, women’s teams, and U-20 national team.”

Despite the intervention, complaints over unpaid allowances and bonuses have persisted within Nigerian football.

In November 2025, the Super Eagles reportedly refused to train in Rabat, Morocco, before a crucial 2026 World Cup play-off against Gabon. The players cited unpaid allowances dating back to 2019, including payments linked to achievements such as qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup play-offs.

In April 2026, reports also emerged that members of Nigeria’s 2023 and 2025 Flying Eagles teams were demanding about N1.5bn from the NFF.

The amount reportedly covered qualification bonuses for six major tournaments as well as pre-tournament camping allowances accumulated over about 65 days.

The latest investigation comes amid wider concerns over the management of Nigerian football. The Super Falcons recently failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the Super Eagles also missed the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, who assumed office after his election at the federation’s congress in Benin City in September 2022, is seeking another term at the proposed September 27 elective congress.

His administration has faced increasing criticism, although the NFF board has denied claims that the National Sports Commission is seeking to halt the election and establish a normalisation committee to oversee Nigerian football.

Efforts to obtain comments from the EFCC and ICPC spokespersons, Dele Oyewale and John Odey, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the declaration during an interview on Wednesday.

He said he did not oppose the removal of the subsidy but questioned how the funds saved from the policy had been used by the government.

“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go? It was intended to reduce poverty and help children attend school. Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku said in Hausa.

He added, “If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it.”

According to Atiku, the removal of the subsidy would have been acceptable if the government had invested the resulting savings in projects that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different. If elected, I can remove the subsidy and use the money to do all these properly.”

President Bola Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023.

The policy was followed by a sharp rise in the cost of living as petrol prices increased and the cost of goods and services rose across the country.

However, some state governors have said their monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) increased considerably after the subsidy was removed.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said on Wednesday that the removal of the subsidy had generated N15.8 trillion in additional resources for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Oyedele attributed the increase partly to higher revenue collections, particularly the naira value of transactions denominated in US dollars after the exchange-rate reforms.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Indonesian authorities have deported a Nigerian national after he failed to provide immigration officials with a valid travel document or residence permit.

The Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre in Riau Islands Province announced the deportation on Thursday, according to ANTARA News.

The Nigerian was among two foreign nationals deported on Tuesday, August 18, through the immigration checkpoint at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang.

“The Nigerian national could not show immigration officers a valid travel document or residence permit, violating Article 71(b) of the Immigration Law,” the report noted.

Prior to his deportation, the Nigerian was held at the Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, where officials confirmed his identity and prepared the necessary travel documents.

An official of the detention centre, I Wayan Putu Wiadnya, described the deportation as an administrative measure against foreign nationals who breach Indonesia’s immigration regulations.

He said, “We returned them and ensured the entire process was conducted professionally, orderly, safely and accountably.”

The Nigerian was deported alongside a Palestinian national who was also found to have breached Indonesian immigration rules.

Authorities said the Palestinian was deported after overstaying his permitted period in the country, in violation of Article 78(3) of the Immigration Law.

The Head of Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, Erybowo Radyan Asmono, said the action was part of efforts to enforce immigration laws and regulate the stay of foreign nationals in Indonesia.

He said, “Immigration law enforcement is essential to protecting national sovereignty, but it must remain firm, professional and guided by humanitarian principles.”

Asmono also stressed that all foreigners in Indonesia must comply with the country’s immigration laws and regulations.

He added that violations would lead to appropriate administrative action by the relevant authorities.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s electoral influence, arguing that he lacked the political strength to secure victory in his home state and the South-West during the 1999 presidential election.

Atiku made the remarks while speaking with journalists on Wednesday amid his renewed disagreement with Obasanjo over their political relationship and the events that preceded their victory in the 1999 presidential election.

“In 1999, he could not even win his own state or the South-West; it was Arewa that made him President. He possesses no electoral value,” Atiku said.

The latest disagreement between the two former political allies follows a series of public accusations over their roles in the administration they jointly led between 1999 and 2007.

The dispute became more intense after Obasanjo described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the “biggest mistake” of his presidency. He also accused the former vice president of disloyalty and involvement in an alleged plan to remove him from office through impeachment.

Atiku rejected Obasanjo’s version of events and accused the former president of distorting history for political purposes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former vice president has also defended his contribution to the administration, saying he supported Obasanjo after his release from prison and played a role in establishing the political structure that helped them win the 1999 election.

On the 2027 presidential election, Atiku also pointed to his record of providing opportunities for young Nigerians during his tenure as vice president.

He said some beneficiaries of those opportunities later became governors, ministers, directors and other public officeholders.

Atiku pledged that his administration would continue to provide opportunities for young Nigerians to participate in governance and assume leadership responsibilities if he wins the presidency in 2027.

He is contesting the 2027 presidential election under the ADC after joining forces with other opposition politicians in an effort to challenge the ruling party.

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‎‎By Maji Bappa Maina
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‎Governments are often judged by what they build.
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‎But the more important question is what they are able to sustain.
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‎For Governor Mai Mala Buni, governance appears to extend beyond the boundaries of projects, institutions and even the state itself.
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‎His recent engagement in Chad provides another dimension to a governance philosophy shaped by continuity, institutional strengthening, peacebuilding, post-conflict recovery, regional cooperation and inclusive development.
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‎The report of his visit to Nigerian refugees in Kaya, Chad, may appear to be simply a humanitarian engagement. But viewed through the wider lens of governance, it represents something deeper.
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‎Governance does not end where a political boundary begins when the problems themselves cross that boundary.
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‎Insecurity does not recognise borders. Neither does displacement, climate pressure, trade or the movement of people.
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‎The Lake Chad region therefore requires more than individual government interventions. It requires institutions that can cooperate across borders and leadership capable of seeing the region as an interconnected system.
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‎This is where Governor Buni’s role as Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum becomes significant.
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‎His visit to the Nigerian refugees in Kaya was not merely about seeing displaced people. It was about listening to them, understanding their circumstances and discussing pathways towards sustainable solutions.
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‎When the refugees described him as the first Nigerian government official to visit them, the significance went beyond protocol.
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‎Presence itself became a form of governance.
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‎But the engagement did not stop at sympathy. The discussion around livelihoods, peaceful coexistence and voluntary return demonstrates an important principle of humanitarian governance: support should not merely sustain vulnerability; it should help people move towards dignity, productivity and resilience.
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‎The Governor’s engagement with the Chadian authorities and the Lake Chad Basin Commission further reinforces this approach.
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‎The emphasis on sustainable security, economic growth, institutional partnership and opening waterways reflects an understanding that the future of the Lake Chad region cannot be secured through security measures alone.
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‎Security creates the space for development.
‎Development strengthens stability.
‎Stability creates the conditions for peace to endure.
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‎This connects directly with the broader governance philosophy of the Buni Administration.
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‎A road is more than infrastructure when it connects communities and markets.
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‎Agricultural support is more than an intervention when it enables people to become producers and employers.
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‎And humanitarian assistance becomes more meaningful when it forms part of a pathway towards stability, livelihood and reintegration.
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‎In each case, development becomes an ecosystem rather than a collection of projects.
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‎Perhaps this is the deeper story behind the Buni Administration, not simply what has been constructed or commissioned, but the attempt to build systems capable of moving from recovery to stability, from stability to development, and from development to sustainability.
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‎The journey is neither instant nor complete.
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‎Governance is always a work in progress.
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‎But when leadership begins to think beyond individual projects and toward institutions, systems, communities and generations, development acquires something more valuable than visibility.
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‎It acquires continuity.
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‎And perhaps the strongest measure of leadership is not how loudly achievements are announced, but how quietly the systems created continue to improve people’s lives long after the announcement has ended.
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‎That is when governance becomes more than administration.
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‎It becomes a philosophy.
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‎Maji Bappa Maina is a ‎Political Writer, PhD Researcher, ‎Voice of Development, Leadership & Public Insight.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Bank of Ghana has appointed prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), to chair the council overseeing interest-free banking operations in the country.

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Pandit Asiama, formally inaugurated the new members of the council at a brief ceremony held in Accra.

Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar’s appointment highlights the growing role of Islamic scholars and experts in the development of interest-free banking and Islamic finance.

Professor Umar is a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, and a prominent scholar of Islamic studies. The council is expected to help ensure that interest-free banking operations in Ghana comply with the principles and requirements of Islamic law.

The appointment comes at a time when Islamic banking and finance are gaining increasing acceptance in different parts of the world.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of four suspects, including a private home lesson teacher and a father, over separate allegations of child defilement across the state.

The arrests were disclosed during a press briefing by Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, who also unveiled a major shift in the command’s operational strategy aimed at curbing crime and protecting vulnerable citizens.

“Let me state clearly from the outset that the security and safety of Edo people remain the central priority of this Command,” CP Daaor said. “We are also strengthening our operational posture by turning Edo State into a highly Mobile Command. The objective is simple: to ensure that criminals do not find Edo State a comfortable operating environment.”

In one of the cases, 52-year-old Daniel Erumudonmoh Okhuilegbe, a home lesson teacher, was apprehended on August 5, 2026, for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old pupil entrusted to his care.

“The complainant alleged that the suspect was engaged as a home lesson teacher but allegedly abused the trust placed in him and sexually assaulted the child,” Daaor stated.

Following the conclusion of investigation, the suspect was charged before the Benin High Court on August 14, 2026, and subsequently remanded at Oko Correctional Centre, Benin.

In a separate incident reported on August 6, 2026, a 42-year-old father was apprehended in Iyahmo over the alleged defilement of his 15-year-old daughter. Following a discrete investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the suspect was charged to court on August 14, 2026, and remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre.

The command also arrested 29-year-old Samson Amachie following an August 10 report transferred from the Okhoro Police Station to the Gender and Family Support Unit. Amachie allegedly lured an 11-year-old girl into an uncompleted building behind his shop. He has since been arraigned before the Benin High Court and remanded at the Oko Correctional Centre.

In another case reported on August 12 in Okpella, police arrested 26-year-old Otaru Jonathan for allegedly taking a 14-year-old girl on a motorcycle to an uncompleted building in Afokpella, where he assaulted her and gave her ₦2,000.

“The survivor was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation and attention,” CP Daaor noted, adding that the suspect remains in custody pending arraignment.

Alongside the gender-based violence arrests, police operatives recorded success in tracking down stolen property following a late-night home invasion.

According to the commissioner, on August 14, 2026, at approximately 1:15 a.m., six armed hoodlums invaded a residential compound on Jesus Christ Street, Iduowinna Community, dispossessing residents of mobile phones, laptops, wristwatches, perfumes, human hair, and a Lexus 350 saloon car bearing registration number BWR 988 DH.

“The scene was immediately visited, all divisions were alerted for possible recovery of the vehicle, and patrols were intensified within the community,” Daaor explained. “In a major breakthrough, at about 0900hrs the same day, the stolen Lexus 350 was recovered at Oba Market.”

The police chief assured residents that investigations remain active to track down the fleeing members of the robbery gang and recover the remaining stolen items.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general elections.

The commission disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja when it hosted a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI), led by its president, Dan Twining.

The IRI team is in Nigeria from August 11 to 21 as part of a pre-election assessment aimed at reviewing INEC’s preparations and identifying areas where international technical assistance could support the electoral process.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the planned personnel would be deployed across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.

He said the commission was also improving its logistics arrangements, expanding early deployment of personnel and materials, and strengthening cooperation with transport unions to facilitate the movement of election officials and election materials.

Amupitan described the IRI visit as timely, particularly after the recent Osun governorship election and ahead of the 2027 campaign season.

He said recent off-cycle governorship elections and legislative by-elections had provided opportunities for INEC to test its technology, logistics and security arrangements.

According to him, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal have continued to perform reliably, with more than 98 per cent of results uploaded in recent elections.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission was introducing measures to improve voter registration. The measures include online registration, continuous updating of the voters’ register and efforts to ensure that voter information remains accurate.

He said additional measures would be introduced to make the electoral process more accessible to persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.

Amupitan identified misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence as some of the emerging challenges that could threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections.

He said INEC had established a unit focused on artificial intelligence to develop guidelines for responsible technology use and tackle false information capable of undermining confidence in the electoral process.

The chairman reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality, stating that INEC would not favour any political party or candidate.

He said the commission’s primary duty was to conduct elections that represent the wishes of Nigerians, with the recent Osun governorship election cited as part of efforts to promote credible and peaceful elections.

Amupitan also acknowledged the need for the commission to take further steps to increase voter participation in future elections.

Speaking on the purpose of the IRI mission, Twining said the organisation wanted to support a competitive, peaceful and credible electoral process in Nigeria.

He said the delegation would examine INEC’s preparations, identify possible challenges and consider ways the international community could assist Nigeria’s democratic development.

“We know how committed Nigerians are to exercising their democratic rights,” Twining said.

“Our interest is a competitive, peaceful and credible election in Nigeria, and we look forward to learning how we can support that objective.”