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Reps Vow Arrest Warrants for BOA MD, ARCN DG in N1.2trn Agric Fund Probe

By
Toyin Adebayo
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ABUJA — The House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security on Tuesday ramped up its scrutiny of alleged mismanagement in Nigeria’s agricultural intervention schemes, issuing stark threats of bench warrants against the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Ayo Sontinrin, and the Director-General of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, for repeatedly snubbing summons.

Committee Chairman Hon. Chike Okafor delivered the ultimatum during the third leg of the investigative hearing into the purported diversion of N1.2 trillion in federal funds disbursed outside the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The probe, greenlit by the House on July 1, 2025, spans multiple committees and targets high-profile programs like the Central Bank’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), which alone channeled N1.12 trillion to 4.67 million farmers via 563 anchors.

Okafor dismissed the duo’s excuses—BOA citing a recent leadership transition—as “flimsy” and “unacceptable,” emphasizing Parliament’s quasi-judicial clout. “We are not the police, but we will invoke the full weight of the law to compel attendance,” he warned, setting Wednesday as their final deadline. He contrasted their evasion with cooperative entities like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which attended inaugural sessions on April 8 and June 16, 2025, alongside participating financial institutions (PFIs). Sterling Bank’s denial of debts under ABP was corroborated by CBN correspondence dated June 25, 2025, clearing it from scrutiny.

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) also drew ire for similar stonewalling, but the committee lauded the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), discharging it after Director-General Alhaji Fatuhu Mohammed’s testimony confirmed no involvement in the schemes. Okafor hailed Mohammed’s “exemplary” compliance, underscoring the probe’s aim to safeguard food security amid Nigeria’s hunger crisis.

Microfinance Bank Faces CBN Over Loan Discrepancy

Tensions flared when Prospect Microfinance Bank’s MD, Isaac Inwang, clashed with CBN officials over ABP disbursements. Inwang claimed receipt of N14.6 million for 30 poultry farmers, with N6 million recovered but held pending CBN guidance. CBN’s Deputy Director Hassan Tom fired back, insisting N15.5 million was released and accusing the bank of breaching guidelines by sitting on recoveries for over three years.

Okafor ordered Prospect to furnish all CBN correspondence by November 19, vowing to unpack the “inconsistencies” that could signal deeper irregularities in a program already under fire for N500 billion in losses from earlier cycles.

Wednesday’s session looms with BOA, ARCN, NIRSAL Plc, and others on the docket, as lawmakers signal no leniency in rooting out what they call a “scandal threatening Nigeria’s breadbasket.” With food inflation hovering above 30%, the probe’s revelations could reshape accountability in agri-financing—or expose systemic rot that has long starved smallholder farmers of promised lifelines.

Boko Haram: Zulum meets COAS, says the worst is over.

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has stated that the worst of Boko Haram insurgency is over, even as he acknowledged recent surges in attacks by the terrorist group.

Governor Zulum made the statement on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Shuaibu Waidi, in Maiduguri.

Zulum, while delivering his remarks at the meeting, further explained his statement by reflecting on the more escalated security situation the state had previously endured. He stated that compared to the peak of the crisis years ago, the current security landscape, despite recent setbacks, shows significant improvement.

Zulum also called on the people of Borno State to continue giving their necessary cooperation and support to the military and other security agencies. He emphasised that the war against terrorism requires a collective effort, urging residents to be vigilant and provide timely intelligence to security operatives to prevent attacks and ensure a lasting return to peace in the state.

“Yes, we have witnessed a series of attacks on our communities and the security forces, but the worst is over; we shall continue to collaborate and provide the needed intelligence to our security forces to bring this madness to an end,” Zulum said.

“The frequency and scale of attacks on our communities then were overwhelming. Today, while we grieve any single setback, we can also see that the worst is indeed behind us. The trajectory is towards peace, and we are committed to sustaining it,” he added.

Zulum commiserated with the Nigerian Army over the recent tactical setbacks across the theatre. He praised the sacrifice and bravery of the officers and soldiers, describing them as heroes who, in some cases, pay the ultimate price for the nation’s security.

“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to reiterate that we stand with the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not take their sacrifice for granted,” the governor said.

Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Waidi, while giving the assurance of the Army headquarters to provide necessary logistics to the troops, also commended Governor Zulum for his support to the armed forces.

He said, “I want to most sincerely, on behalf of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army, extend our appreciation to His Excellency for visiting us at a time like this. We appreciate your support in Borno.”

He added, “We have confidence in our society here in the theatre and from the Army headquarters, we will provide all the necessary resources needed to ensure they achieve their mission.”

The meeting was attended by the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, Special Adviser on Security, Brigadier General Abdullaho Ishaq (Rtd) and other senior government officials.

COURT JAILS ISWAP COMMANDER 20 YEARS AS JUDGE ORDERS DERADICALISATION BEFORE RELEASE

By
Roland Edet
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A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a notorious commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Hussaini Ismaila, to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism charges linked to coordinated attacks on police formations in Kano State.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Tuesday, convicting Ismaila — popularly known as Mai Tangaran — on a four-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Ismaila masterminded the 2012 bomb and gun attacks on the Police Headquarters in Bompai, the Mobile Police Base on Kabuga Road, the Pharm Centre Police Station, the Angwa Uku Police Station, and other locations in Kano, leaving scores injured. He was arrested on August 31, 2017 in Tsamiyya Babba Village, Gezewa LGA.

The case dragged for years due to interlocutory appeals and a trial-within-trial to determine whether his confessional statements were voluntarily given. The prosecution eventually called five witnesses, including two DSS operatives and two eyewitnesses.

Initially pleading not guilty, the ISWAP leader changed his plea after the fifth prosecution witness testified. His lawyer, P. B. Onijah, asked the court for leniency, saying the defendant was remorseful.

Justice Nwite ruled that Ismaila was guilty on all charges, sentencing him to 15 years on count one and 20 years each on counts two, three, and four, to run concurrently. The sentence will be counted from the date of his arrest in 2017.

In a significant directive, the judge ordered that after serving his term, Ismaila must undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation before any reintegration into society.

The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service was also authorised to designate any suitable facility for the convict’s imprisonment.

‘₦50bn Will Test You’: Wike Warns New South-South Commission Board Against Greed, Infighting

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA — Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike on Wednesday delivered a blunt, no-holds-barred charge to the newly inaugurated South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Board, urging members to resist the lure of easy money and political patronage or risk tearing the young agency apart once billions begin to flow.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Board led by Chairman and former Deputy Speaker Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, Wike warned that the real test of unity will come the moment the Commission receives its first major allocation—rumoured to be around ₦50 billion.

“Right now you are all smiling and united because there is no money and no project yet,” Wike said. “The day ₦50 billion lands in the account and one person signs it away without approval, that is when the fighting will start. I have seen it before. Don’t let money destroy this Commission.”

Drawing from his own experience overseeing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as Rivers State governor, Wike cautioned against repeating old mistakes: awarding “political projects,” duplicating state government efforts, or building vanity roads to the homes of influential figures.

“Don’t sit here in Abuja and design 50-metre roads to one big man’s compound,” he said. “Go to the states. Ask the governors and the people what they actually need. That is the only way the South-South will feel real impact.”

The minister stressed that personal ambition and greed have crippled many intervention agencies in the past and urged the Board to place service above self-enrichment.

“Many people get appointed and immediately declare ‘I have arrived.’ That mentality is why development commissions fail,” he declared. “Your loyalty is to President Bola Tinubu who appointed you. Work hard, deliver visible projects, and make him proud he chose you.”

Wike further counselled the members to develop the courage to say “no” to politicians, contractors, and pressure groups that will inevitably swarm the Commission once funds are released.

“Pressure will come from everywhere—senators, governors, traditional rulers, even family members,” he warned. “You must have the discipline to say: ‘This I will not do.’ Even if it costs you your seat. No position is permanent.”

In response, Chairman Chibudom Nwuche thanked Wike for the “fatherly advice” and pledged full commitment to transparency, stakeholder collaboration, and visible, people-centred development across the six South-South states.

“We will not let Mr. President or the people of the region down,” Nwuche assured, promising to strengthen the Commission’s liaison office in Abuja for seamless engagement with federal ministries and agencies.

As the SSDC prepares to roll out its first set of projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Wike’s stark warning serves as an early reality check: the road to sustainable regional development will be paved not just with billions, but with integrity, unity, and political will.

Wike Slams Contractor: Judges’ Quarters Risk Missing December Deadline

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA — Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike on Wednesday issued a stinging rebuke to the contractor handling the new Judges’ Quarters and Court of Appeal complex in Daki Biyu, Jabi, warning that the project is now unlikely to meet its already-extended December 2025 completion target.

During an unscheduled site inspection, Wike declared that work on the critical judicial housing estate had fallen “far behind schedule,” despite earlier assurances from the contractor.

“Initially they promised September. They wrote to us for an extension to December. But from what I have seen today, I don’t think this project will be ready even in January,” a visibly frustrated Wike told journalists at the site. “That is completely unacceptable for a project of this national importance.”

While acknowledging visible progress on structural elements, the minister singled out the slow pace of finishing works — tiling, plumbing, electrical fittings and landscaping — as the primary cause of the delay.

The multi-billion-naira complex, one of several legacy judicial infrastructure projects under the Tinubu administration, is designed to provide secure, modern accommodation for Appeal Court justices and senior judges posted to Abuja, ending decades of reliance on rented or substandard housing.

Wike linked the initiative directly to broader efforts to restore public confidence in the judiciary.

“You cannot talk about judicial independence and public trust without investing in infrastructure and welfare,” he stressed. “When judges live and work in dignified conditions, it gives them the moral authority and peace of mind to dispense justice without fear or favour. That is the foundation of any functioning democracy.”

The minister’s blunt assessment comes amid intensified oversight of all flagship FCT projects, with Wike vowing that contractors who fail to deliver on revised timelines will face sanctions.

Sources at the FCDA confirmed that a formal performance review meeting with the contractor has been scheduled for next week, with possible penalties or termination clauses now under active consideration.

The Judges’ Quarters project remains a centrepiece of the administration’s promise to reposition Abuja as a truly modern capital while strengthening key democratic institutions through targeted infrastructure investment.

Tinubu Cancels G20 Trip as Kebbi Schoolgirls Remain in Captivity, Kwara Church Attack Kills Two

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

President Bola Tinubu has abruptly postponed his departure for the G20 Summit in South Africa and a subsequent AU-EU meeting in Angola, choosing instead to stay in Abuja until he receives full security briefings on the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the deadly bandit attack on worshippers in Kwara.

A terse statement from presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday confirmed the suspension of the foreign trips, citing the president’s deep concern over the two incidents that unfolded within 48 hours.

Tinubu has ordered additional troops to Kwara’s Eruku axis following Monday’s assault on Christ Apostolic Church, which left two worshippers dead and one vigilante critically injured. He also reiterated his earlier directive for an all-out rescue operation to bring home the remaining 24 girls kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, after one escapee made it back safely on Monday night.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, already in the northwest on the president’s behalf, is expected to deliver on-the-ground reports before Tinubu reschedules his travel.

The back-to-back attacks have reignited national outrage over persistent banditry in northern Nigeria, forcing the president to put global engagements on hold as the country confronts yet another wave of school abductions and rural terror.

One Schoolgirl Escapes Kidnapping in Kebbi School Raid; Search Intensifies for 24 Others

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

ABUJA — In a glimmer of hope amid escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest, authorities confirmed on Tuesday that one of 25 schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State has escaped and reunited with her family, as military and local hunters ramp up a high-stakes rescue operation for the remaining captives.

The predawn assault unfolded early Monday at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, where gunmen on motorcycles stormed the premises, firing indiscriminately and abducting the students before fleeing into the surrounding bushland. The raid, which also claimed the life of the school’s vice principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, has reignited fears over the resurgence of school-targeted kidnappings in the region.

School principal Musa Rabi Magaji verified the escape, noting that the girl made her way home late Monday evening after evading her captors. A second student fled the scene during the initial chaos and was unharmed. “They are safe and sound,” Magaji told reporters, his voice laced with cautious relief.

Verified footage circulating online, authenticated by independent sources, depicts the two girls—appearing to be around 12 or 13 years old—huddled with relatives in their village, their faces etched with trauma but spirits unbroken. The images underscore the human toll of an attack that has left families in Maga reeling from shock and sorrow.

Swift Military Mobilization

The incident triggered an immediate, multifaceted response from federal and state security apparatus. Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu issued a terse directive to troops under Operation FANSAN YANMA, Nigeria’s counter-banditry initiative, ordering “intelligence-driven operations and relentless day-and-night pursuit of the abductors.” “We must find these children. Act decisively and professionally on all intelligence. Success is not optional,” Shaibu emphasized in a statement that brooked no failure.

Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris, who rushed to the school shortly after the attack, vowed an all-out effort to secure the girls’ release. “We will leave no stone unturned,” he pledged during an on-site briefing, flanked by tearful parents and community leaders. Local hunters, renowned for their bush-tracking prowess, have joined forces with the military, combing forested enclaves where the gunmen are believed to be holding the students.

By Tuesday evening, President Bola Tinubu escalated the federal response, dispatching Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi for direct engagement with the affected families. Shettima, addressing a gathering in Birnin Kebbi, relayed Tinubu’s assurances of “unwavering commitment” to the girls’ safe return, framing the crisis as a national imperative. “The full weight of our security machinery is mobilized. These daughters of Nigeria will be home soon,” he affirmed, urging calm amid the palpable anguish.

A Community’s Raw Reckoning

Eyewitness accounts from Maga paint a harrowing picture of the assault’s ferocity. Resident Abdulkarim Abdullahi, roused from sleep by the staccato bursts of gunfire, recounted: “I was at home when I suddenly heard gunshots from the school. We were told that the attackers entered with many motorcycles.” The assailants, masked and methodical, targeted the girls’ dormitory, herding them onto bikes in a matter of minutes.

The slaying of Makuku added a layer of profound personal devastation. His widow, Amina Hassan, shared a chilling detail with journalists: “Three of them entered and asked my husband, ‘Are you Malam Hassan?’ and he responded, ‘Yes, I am.’ They told him that we are here to kill you.” Makuku, a veteran educator gunned down in his office, leaves behind a family shattered by loss and a school community forever altered.

As of Tuesday night, efforts to contact the Kebbi State Police Command for an operational update were ongoing, with sources indicating heightened patrols and aerial surveillance in the area. While NEWSFOCUS could not independently corroborate all details at press time, the confirmed escape offers a fragile beacon in an otherwise grim narrative.

Echoes of a Persistent Menace

This latest outrage slots into a grim continuum of banditry plaguing northern Nigeria, where armed groups—often ex-herders turned marauders—routinely ambush schools, highways, and rural outposts in a bid for ransom, recruits, or retribution. Since 2014, over 1,600 students have been seized in similar raids, from Chibok’s enduring tragedy to more recent abductions in Kaduna and Zamfara. The Kebbi incident, coming barely weeks after a spate of farmer-herder clashes, exposes the fraying social fabric and strained resources of a region where insecurity has displaced thousands and stalled development.

Critics, including local civil society voices, have decried the recurring pattern as a failure of proactive intelligence and community policing, calling for bolstered border controls along porous frontiers with Niger and Benin. As the sun sets on another day of uncertainty for the 24 missing girls, their fate hangs in the balance— a stark reminder that in Nigeria’s heartland, the line between schoolyard and warzone remains perilously thin. Security teams vow breakthroughs soon, but for the families of Maga, hope is measured in hours, not headlines.

Court Orders Upheld: Abuja Developer Reclaims Kafe Land, Begins Demolition of Illegal Settlement

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0


Winning Clause Nigeria Limited has taken possession of Plot 67, Cadastral Zone C05, Kafe District, following the enforcement of four separate court judgments, including a recent Court of Appeal ruling, which declared the Kuchibedna community illegal occupants. The developer has already commenced the demolition of the unauthorized settlement.

Speaking to journalists, the company’s counsel, O. Marx Ikongbeh, Esq., said the enforcement was carried out strictly in compliance with the courts’ decisions, which consistently recognized the community as trespassers.

“What you witnessed today is the enforcement of three High Court judgments and one Court of Appeal judgment, all affirming that Kuchibedna Community are illegal occupants of Plot 67,” Ikongbeh said. “The Court also issued an order of specific performance directing the FCT Minister to give vacant possession to the company so development can proceed.”

The land dispute traces back to 2011, when Winning Clause Nigeria Limited received the original allocation. Despite paying compensation to the community three times, residents allegedly refused to vacate, expanding the settlement and selling plots to non-indigenes, creating a larger unauthorized enclave.

Court records show a consistent legal trajectory in favour of the developer:

2016: Justice Chizoba Oji dismissed the community’s claims, declaring them squatters.

2017: Justice D.Z. Senchi reaffirmed their status as trespassers.

2021: Justice A.O. Ebong upheld the developer’s claim.

February 2025: The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/696/2022, confirmed all prior rulings.


An enrolled Court of Appeal judgment dated 22 August 2025, accompanied by a Warrant of Possession issued on 23 September 2025, formed the legal basis for Tuesday’s enforcement.

Ikongbeh noted that even after repeated court victories, Winning Clause Nigeria Limited displayed “unusual magnanimity” by compensating non-indigenous residents residing in the area, yet the community continued illegal occupation and land sales.

The developer further alleged that the settlement had become a security threat, citing incidents of killings, drug activity, and other criminal operations.

“This enforcement restores order, addresses security concerns, and finally clears the way for the estate’s development 14 years after the original allocation,” Ikongbeh stated.

Demolition of the illegal structures has commenced, with the developer vowing to complete the operation while making all supporting court documents and compensation records available to the public for transparency.

Senate Moves to Modernize Public Investment, Repeals 65-Year-Old MOFI Law

By
Gladys Phillip
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0

The Senate on Tuesday took a bold step to modernize Nigeria’s public investment framework by passing for second reading a bill to repeal the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Act of 1959 and re-enact it as the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Act 2025.

Sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani (APC–Niger), the bill seeks to transform MOFI from a passive custodian of government assets into a strategic, transparent, and professionally managed investment institution, capable of driving national wealth creation and economic diversification.

“The MOFI Act of 1959 is no longer fit for purpose. It suffers from an outdated mandate, weak governance, limited investment authority, and poor transparency. This bill will empower MOFI to actively manage assets, invest in domestic and global markets, and leverage innovative financial instruments,” Sani told lawmakers during plenary.

Under the new framework, MOFI will have the authority to enter public-private partnerships, issue bonds, utilize securitization, and manage special purpose vehicles, while ensuring all investments comply with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

Sani explained that the bill draws inspiration from global models such as Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, renowned for transparency, ethical governance, and robust parliamentary oversight.

“The reforms will help Nigeria transition from volatile, resource-dependent revenues to a diversified, asset-powered economy,” Sani said. “This is a landmark legislation that strengthens governance, enhances accountability, and maximizes national assets for sustainable wealth creation.”

Other senators praised the initiative as long overdue. Sen. Abdullahi Yahaya (APC–Kebbi) suggested merging the MOFI Act with the Sovereign Wealth Fund Act to create a single operational law overseeing federal investments, while Sen. Adetukunbo Abiru (APC–Lagos) called for a comprehensive database of all government assets.

Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP–Bauchi) described the bill as a historic step, noting that no modifications had been made to the 66-year-old law until now.

Following the second reading, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Finance for further legislative input, with a report expected back to plenary in four weeks.

The passage of this bill signals the Federal Legislature’s resolve to modernize Nigeria’s public investment architecture, align it with international best practices, and unlock the full potential of government assets.

Senate Mourns Kebbi School VP, General; Urges FG to Recruit 100,000 Troops to Combat Insecurity

By
Saladin Babagana
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0

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday mourned the death of Mr. Hassan Makuku, Vice Principal of Government Girls Comprehensive Senior School, Maga, Kebbi State, who was killed by bandits during a deadly attack that also saw 25 students abducted.

The lawmaking chamber’s grief came shortly after the killing of Brigadier General Musa in an ambush by militants of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), underscoring the persistent security challenges facing the nation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately recruit at least 100,000 additional military personnel to strengthen Nigeria’s stretched security apparatus.

“We sympathize with the families and the children affected, but it must be clear that our security services are overstretched,” Akpabio said. “These criminals target soft spots and vulnerable communities. Even developed nations face crime daily; our duty is to minimize it and protect citizens.”

Adopting a resolution on a motion of urgent national importance raised by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi North), the Senate condemned the attack, describing it as part of a troubling pattern of assaults on schools that jeopardize education and instill fear, particularly among girls.

Senator Yahaya highlighted that the perpetrators invaded the school in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area on Sunday night, killing the Vice Principal before abducting 25 students. He recalled a similar abduction in 2022, noting it took four years to rescue the victims. “This terrorism targeting students must stop,” he warned.

The lawmakers also expressed concern over whether funds allocated for securing learning environments, including the Safe School Initiative, have been effectively utilized. The Senate has established an ad hoc committee, including the Finance Committee, to investigate the funding, spending, and impact of the initiative.

Senator Akpabio linked the recent attacks to past incidents such as the Chibok schoolgirls abduction, stressing that Nigeria’s security situation is under intense international scrutiny.

A minute of silence was observed in honour of Mr. Makuku, who reportedly died shielding his students from the gunmen.

The Federal Government condemned the attack, with Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris assuring that security and intelligence agencies have been directed to locate and safely rescue the abducted students and bring the perpetrators to justice.

President Tinubu has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, is a solemn responsibility of the State, and that no effort will be spared to secure the release of the abducted girls.

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