General News
Fake Agency Scandal: ICPC begins probe, Police Take Matter to Court
–DG alleges threat to life
By Seyi Balogun
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has started looking into the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal while the Nigeria Police Force, on the other hand, is billed to take the matter to court today over forgery and impersonation.
But the man at the centre of the allegations, Adeniyi Adeyemi, has no confidence in the probe. Instead, he has asked President Bola Tinubu to set up a separate, independent panel to probe the matter.
In an open letter dated July 13, Adeyemi welcomed the directive as a positive move but argued that it fell short of a fair and credible process, since the ICPC answers to the same arm of government implicated in the allegations.
He partly welcomed it saying: “I commend your recent directive tasking the ICPC with investigating the circumstances surrounding the PFIPC scandal and N1.3bn allocation inserted into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
“This directive is a vital first step, but the structural realities of this investigation compel me to speak out of a profound desire for absolute transparency.”
He claimed that the existing framework would not provide him with a fair hearing.
“Under the current framework, obtaining a truly impartial hearing presents severe structural challenges.
“The public narrative emanating from official channels remains heavily weighted toward my immediate arrest, effectively overshadowing the gravity of the systemic vulnerabilities and high-level involvement I have brought to light.”
He justified his fears with the claim that:
“My concerns are deeply validated by the highly alarming events surrounding Mr Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, a central intermediary in this matter.
“Official reports claim Tanimola tragically died in a sudden fire incident at Kachi Hotel in Utako, Abuja.
“Yet, there remains a total absence of independent eyewitness or media verification of any such inferno. More disturbingly, under highly unclear circumstances and without the official involvement of any federal capital regulatory agency, the entire Kachi Hotel structure was swiftly invaded by unidentified armed actors and manually demolished down to the rubble days later, effectively erasing a vital physical crime scene and erasing material evidence.”
For transparency, in his view, Adeyemi urged the President to establish an independent panel comprising representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigerian Bar Association, independent media organisations, international financial institutions, diplomatic missions, human rights groups, as well as the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as technical partners.
He promised that he present himself once bodies such as Amnesty International, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom are part of the panel.
Meanwhile, the police are set to arraign Adeyemi today before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025.
On the other hand, ICPC spokesman, John Odey, confirmed on Monday that the commission had taken up the case and was capable of handling it alone or in partnership with other agencies.
“The matter has been given to us. We are working on it. The capacity of the ICPC to work on its own or in collaboration with other agencies has never been in doubt
General News
Benue Bishop Shuts Schs, Hospital, Parish In Alia’s Community Says “Church Cannot … Expose Priests, Students To Danger”
By Felix Umande
The Catholic Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya, has ordered the indefinite closure of four Catholic institutions in Ihugh, Benue State, and withdrawn pastoral agents following repeated attacks, arson and insecurity.
The decision, contained in a letter and decree dated October 12, takes immediate effect and affects St. Winifred Secondary School, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St. Thomas Hospital, Salus Mind Care Center and St. Winifred Parish, Ihugh.
In the pastoral letter, Avenya described the withdrawal as painful but necessary to protect lives, stressing it was not motivated by anger or retaliation.
“The Church cannot, in conscience, continue to expose her Priests, Consecrated Persons, Teachers, Medical personnel, Students and Patients to danger,” he said.
The bishop cited repeated disturbances including the burning of student hostels at St. Winifred Secondary School on October 28, 2025, May 10 and 15, 2026, and October 11, 2026, recurrent burglaries at St. Winifred Parish and criminal incidents at St. Thomas Hospital. He recalled that during the reopening of the hospital on June 21, 2024, some persons displayed placards and chanted slogans demanding that Reverend Sisters leave Ihugh.
Avenya said the Diocese had engaged the host community, traditional rulers, elders and security authorities to find lasting peace, but without security guarantees.
The decree directs the withdrawal of priests, consecrated persons, catechists, pastoral workers and lay mission partners, while teaching and non-teaching staff, medical personnel and administrators are to be redeployed through appropriate diocesan offices.
It also orders safeguarding of diocesan property, transfer of parish registers and archives to the diocesan archives, and reverent removal of the Blessed Sacrament, sacred vessels and other sacred objects under supervision.
The bishop said arrangements would be made to minimise impact on students, patients and staff. Students are to be assisted to continue education in other Catholic schools in the Diocese, while patients at St. Thomas Hospital will be referred to other facilities, especially those needing urgent care. Affected staff, he said, would be treated with justice and charity.
Addressing Catholics in Ihugh, he declared:
“To our Catholic faithful in Ihugh: do not lose heart. Your Baptism is not lost with a building, nor is your faith diminished by the closing of a door.”
He appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, youth leaders, government and security agencies to restore peace and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice, adding that return is conditional on genuine repentance, restitution and credible assurances of safety.
“This decision is a painful one, but it is not a final farewell,” he said.
Avenya called for intensified prayers for peace and designated Friday, October 23 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace and reconciliation.
Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, presented the Company’s 2025 Audited Financial Statement (AFS) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Ojulari, who was accompanied by the Company’s Group Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Dapo Segun, presented the statement, which delivered impressive results that include ₦7.2 Trillion Profit After Tax (a 33% rise compared to ₦5.4 Trillion in 2024), ₦5.8 Trillion dividend and ₦34.5 Trillion revenue.
On 29th September, 2026, NNPC Ltd announced its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2025, following its Annual General Meeting and second Earnings Call with financial and business analysts.
The results highlight the Company’s growing earnings strength and improved operational performance, laying the foundation for future growth.
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA), Dr. Eferebo Sylvanus has been honoured with the Maritime Innovation and Technology Leadership Award at the 15th Democracy Heroes Award Africa.
Eferebo received the honour at the ceremony held at the weekend at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, in recognition of his professional leadership and contributions to marine engineering, naval architecture and maritime technology.
The award comes amid growing calls for Nigeria to harness its maritime resources through indigenous expertise, technological advancement and research-driven industrial development.
The Democracy Heroes Award Africa, now in its 15th edition, recognises individuals making contributions across different sectors.
Eferebo’s recognition places a spotlight on a specialised but strategically important profession whose impact extends beyond engineering into industrial development and the wider blue economy.
As Nigeria continues to explore new opportunities in maritime trade, offshore energy and shipbuilding, the challenge will be ensuring that professional recognition is matched by sustained investment in research, infrastructure, training and the practical application of homegrown technology.
With more than two decades of experience in engineering consultancy and technical leadership, Eferebo leads NIMENA, a professional body committed to advancing marine engineering through research, education, technical standards and industry collaboration.
His academic background includes a Bachelor of Technology in Marine Engineering, a master’s degree in Naval Architecture and Ship Construction, and a doctorate in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding from Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
Beyond his professional credentials, Eferebo has built a career around developing technical solutions for Nigeria’s maritime and offshore industries.
He is the founder and chief executive officer of Somatrix Marine Limited, an engineering consultancy involved in marine consulting, ship design, marine surveys, construction management and research and development.
His leadership extends to engineering regulation and policy development, including work on maritime engineering standards and local content development.
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