Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Jaja, for alleged N70bn fraud. According to a source, Jaja was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday, alongside an unlicensed Bureau De Change operator, Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, and a Point of Sale operator, Sunusi Sambo. “They were arrested in connection with investigations of money laundering, diversion of public funds and misappropriation to the tune of N70bn. “Already, investigations showed that a cash withdrawal of N59bn had been made through various bank accounts opened and operated by the Accountant General on behalf of…

The South-South Youths Initiative has voiced worry about President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of an emergency in Rivers State, calling it an act of injustice and bias. The organisation condemned the decision to suspend Governor Siminialayi Fubara and his deputy while allowing the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to stay in office, despite his apparent role in the political turmoil. In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, the group claimed that the president’s actions looked to benefit Wike, a crucial character in the ongoing political turmoil. The statement emphasised that suspending the democratically elected executive…

President Bola Tinubu is meeting with the sole administrator he appointed to run the affairs of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, barely 24 hours after he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. Ibas arrived in the Presidential Villa’s courtyard around 12:48 p.m. (local time). On Tuesday, Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. The situation, which had halted government in the oil-rich state, is the result of a power struggle between Governor…

Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended Rivers State Governor, has left the Government House in Port Harcourt with his family and security details. Fubara reportedly left the seat of power on Wednesday morning, according to a close source who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, security at the Government House is thin, while the two armoured personnel carriers spotted in front of the building on Tuesday night are still stationed there, along with a few of the security personnel. As of the time of reporting this article, normal activities were continuing in Port Harcourt and…

Members of the House of Representatives engaged in a heated verbal fight as the green chamber prepared to debate the emergency rule in Rivers State. Chronicle NG gathered that two female members shouted at each other over the political crisis in the South-South State. The two female lawmakers, Marie Ebikake (PDP, Bayelsa) and Blessing Amadi (PDP, Rivers), engaged in an intense shouting match regarding the constitutionality of the president’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers. This happened before the commencement of the plenary on Wednesday. It took the intervention of other lawmakers in the chamber to prevent…

Farmers in Shimankar community, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Tuesday, raised the alarm over the invasion of their farmlands by herdsmen. It was gathered that violence had erupted in the community the previous day leaving many injured and houses burnt. According to eyewitnesses, the violence began as a disagreement between two groups about ancient ceremonies and ritual performance in the town, but swiftly escalated, with homes and businesses set on fire. But speaking with reporters in Jos on Tuesday, some farmers said in the aftermath of the violence, some herdsmen invaded their farms in several locations, causing…

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing the move as “unconstitutional” and a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy. The group, in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, claimed that the president has no constitutional authority to dismiss an elected governor, deputy governor, or state lawmakers during an emergency. “The 1999 Constitution does not grant the president the power to remove an elected governor, deputy governor, or members of a state’s legislature under the guise of a state of…

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “unconstitutional and reckless.” Obi accused Tinubu of disrespecting the rule of law and showing an alarming inclination to stomp on democracy. In a statement on X on Wednesday, Obi said, “The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs. “It has plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, hugely…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, insisting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is solely responsible for the political crisis that led to the intervention. In a statement released on Tuesday, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, accused Fubara of undermining democracy in the state, citing his demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly and governing without legislative oversight as measures that rendered the state ungoverned. “When he brazenly demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly, Fubara destroyed the very foundation of democracy in the state. “When…

Press statement by suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on the state of emergency declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu: My dear Rivers People, I address you today with a deep sense of responsibility and calm as we navigate this unfortunate moment in our state’s political history. Since assuming office as your governor, all my actions and decisions have been guided by my constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty. We prioritised the protection of lives and property and ensured the continuous progress of our dear state. Even in the face of the political impasse,…