WAFFI TV | Feature

EFCC Pledges To Probe Matawalle Over Alleged N528bn Graft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to investigate allegations of financial misconduct against the Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, following a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress Young Leaders Alliance (APC-YLA). Matawalle stands accused of embezzling over N528 billion during his time as Governor of Zamfara State. The EFCC’s commitment came during a protest held Friday at its Abuja headquarters, where APC-YLA Convener, Mohammed Ireji, alongside other demonstrators, demanded the reopening of Matawalle’s corruption case. Ireji criticized the EFCC for delaying the probe, pointing to earlier petitions—including one from the APC Akida Forum on May 3, 2024, and another follow-up on September 30, 2024. EFCC Acting Director of Security, Idowu Adedeji, acknowledged receipt of the petition, stating, “We have received your petition and we will submit it accordingly.” Protesters urged the EFCC to take swift action, citing its successful investigations into high-profile figures such as former Minister Betta Edu, ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and ex-Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku. The accusations against Matawalle include the diversion of N290 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), N133 billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), and an unaccounted-for N105 billion loan obtained during his tenure. Ireji stressed that these allegations were grounded in verifiable data, not speculation. “We are here today to formally request that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reopen the investigation into the corruption allegations against Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the State Minister for Defense. We have gathered facts and figures regarding Bello Matawalle’s alleged embezzlement of billions of Naira,” Ireji said during the protest. The protest highlighted the growing concerns about selective justice and political interference in the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts. Ireji challenged the commission. “If all these former governors and ministers were not above the law and the EFCC, who would shield Matawalle from investigation?” he asked.

5/10/2025, 7:05:19 AM

JAMB Releases 2025 UTME Results, Withholds 39,834 Others

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Friday announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. However, results for 39,834 candidates are being withheld due to suspected examination irregularities. Over 1.9 million candidates took part in the recently concluded exam. JAMB also revealed that 80 individuals are currently under investigation for exam-related fraud, with Anambra State recording the highest number of suspects at 14. Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made these disclosures during the official release of the 2025 UTME results. He further revealed that 467 underage candidates met the required minimum score, while 50 others were implicated in cheating incidents. A press briefing on the matter is still in progress.

5/9/2025, 1:28:57 PM

Resident Doctors Oppose NUC’s Decision To Award ‘Doctor’ Titles To Pharmacists, Others

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised concerns over the recent decision by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to confer the title of “Doctor” on graduates in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry in Nigerian universities. In a statement signed by its Executive Council, NARD stated that while it supports the professional advancement and welfare of all healthcare workers, the new title designation could create confusion for patients, fuel interprofessional rivalry, and potentially encourage quackery in Nigeria’s already overburdened healthcare system. According to the NUC, the policy aims to bring Nigeria in line with what it terms "global best practices," allowing graduates of PharmD, DPT, and OD programs to use the “Doctor” title. However, NARD countered that the move lacks structural coherence and misrepresents the standards in advanced healthcare systems such as the UK and Germany, where the title “Doctor” is typically reserved for those with postgraduate clinical doctorates or doctoral-level qualifications. NARD emphasized that clinical leadership and the authority to diagnose remain the responsibility of licensed medical doctors worldwide. The association warned that, without clear public education and structural differentiation, the change could mislead patients, erode professional boundaries, and undermine trust and collaboration within clinical teams. Part of the statement reads: “For over two decades, agitation by other health worker groups has increasingly shifted toward competing with medical doctors rather than addressing broader systemic healthcare reforms. Between 2005 and 2025, the majority of their strikes have revolved around demands to equate the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).” "Globally, there is no precedent where pharmacists, physiotherapists, or optometrists in public institutions earn more than medical doctors. Patients typically seek doctors for diagnosis and treatment decisions—a fact reflected in salary structures and clinical governance worldwide. "Conferring the title 'Doctor' on multiple professional groups without public education or structural clarity may confuse patients, worsen interprofessional tensions, and enable quackery in an already fragile health system. Teamwork in care delivery depends on clear roles and trust. "While the NUC cites 'global best practices,' countries like the UK and Germany do not grant the 'Doctor' title to pharmacists or physiotherapists after undergraduate training, except through a PhD. These systems emphasise clear clinical boundaries and robust governance. "We believe all healthcare professionals should take pride in their unique roles. If one wishes to become a medical doctor, there is a rigorous, defined pathway for that.” "We respectfully urge the NUC to reconsider this change and instead pursue policies that strengthen collaboration, clarity, and excellence in healthcare," the statement added.

5/9/2025, 10:21:20 AM

Senate Passes Two Remaining Tax Bills

On Thursday, the Senate approved the remaining two of President Bola Tinubu’s four proposed tax reform bills, completing a legislative process hailed as a significant stride toward revamping Nigeria’s tax system. The approval came after a thorough clause-by-clause review of the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill and the Nigeria Tax Bill during plenary, with contentious sections removed to build consensus. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, praised the lawmakers for their dedication to modernising Nigeria’s tax structure. “These four executive bills are designed to reform and modernise Nigeria’s tax system,” Akpabio stated after the bills were passed by a majority voice vote. This legislative achievement came just a day after the Senate had passed the first two tax bills, postponing the remaining two for Thursday’s deliberation. The House of Representatives had earlier approved all four bills. Speaking to journalists after the session, Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Tax Reform Bills, said the Senate was intentional about ensuring the reforms align with international standards. “What we did was to thoroughly review the tax bills and make the necessary adjustments. President Tinubu introduced these reforms to drive economic development. We held a public hearing and a retreat attended by 76 organisations, including religious leaders and key stakeholders,” he said. Senator Musa added that the Senate recommended the appointment of a chairman for the Nigerian Revenue Service and the creation of an ombudsman to arbitrate and resolve tax-related disputes. He also stressed the importance of establishing a tax tribunal. “It is not a court of record, but a necessary body for fair and swift resolution of tax matters. We also examined issues such as VAT, tax collection, development levies, and inheritance tax—which have been expunged,” he said. Musa assured that Nigerians will benefit from the reforms and praised the President for fostering an inclusive and transparent process. He further revealed that a harmonisation committee would soon be set up to reconcile any differences between the Senate and House versions of the bills. Parts of the revenue generated from the reformed tax structure, Musa added, will be channelled toward combating cybercrime, enhancing national defence infrastructure, supporting TETFund, and aiding military personnel in restoring peace across the country.

5/9/2025, 8:04:46 AM

I Won’t Resign Over Natasha’s Sexual Harassment Allegations~ Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has rejected calls for his resignation following sexual harassment allegations by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, affirming his dedication to his legislative responsibilities. Speaking during Thursday’s plenary—during which four key tax reform bills were passed—Akpabio dismissed the claims as unfounded and vowed not to be distracted. Commending the Senate’s focus and productivity, the former Akwa Ibom governor emphasized that the upper chamber remains committed to fulfilling its constitutional duties. Responding to concerns raised by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), Akpabio declared, “Who told you I was going to step down? Those who thought this Senate would ask me to resign have now seen that we remain focused on our duties. “At whatever level allegations arise, we will demand evidence and act in the overriding public interest.” Drawing parallels with judicial errors in the United States, Akpabio noted that some individuals have suffered wrongful imprisonment over false accusations. “I am not one of those who step down for what is false. “And when it turns out to be false, all they say is ‘oh,’ as though that somehow makes up for it,” Akpabio remarked. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6 following a heated clash with the Senate leadership. She claimed the dispute was sparked by a contentious change to the seating arrangement, which she alleged was an attempt to marginalize her. The conflict intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan, during a televised interview, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of engineering her suspension as retaliation for allegedly rejecting his sexual advances. She later took the matter to the international stage at the Inter-Parliamentary Union's Women in Parliament session held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where she urged global scrutiny of the Nigerian Senate’s actions. Akpoti-Uduaghan further decried what she described as excessive punitive measures—including the withdrawal of her security detail, suspension of her salary, and a six-month ban from legislative activities. In response, Akpabio has filed a motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete a satirical apology video she posted on social media. In the video, shared on April 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan mockingly apologized to Akpabio, stating it was for “not allowing him to have his way” with her. The clip, widely seen as sarcastic, featured her saying she was “sorry for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect,” suggesting that Akpabio presumed no woman could reject him. The video reignited tensions between the two lawmakers, whose dispute originated from the Senate chamber seating issue and escalated into allegations of sexual harassment. Facing further disciplinary measures, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a lawsuit seeking to halt an investigation into her conduct by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen. Despite the pending legal challenge, the Senate proceeded with her suspension—a decision she claims was motivated by her allegations against Akpabio. On April 4, 2025, Justice Binta Nyako issued a restraining order barring both parties from making public statements while the matter is before the court. Nonetheless, Akpabio’s legal counsel, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), has submitted a fresh application asserting that the satirical video contravenes the court’s gag order. The motion requests that the court compel Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete the video and its related content from all her social media accounts.

5/9/2025, 8:01:20 AM

Tinubu Asks Senate To Confirm Nominees For Three Regional Devt Commissions

President Bola Tinubu has formally sought the Senate’s confirmation for nominees to head the South West, North Central, and South South development commissions. In a letter to the Senate on Thursday, he proposed a total of 55 individuals across the three regional bodies. For the North Central Development Commission, 19 nominees were put forward, with Cosmos Akiyir as Chairman and Cyril Yeltsin as Managing Director. In the South West Development Commission, 18 nominees were named, including Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi as Chairman and Charles Akinola as Managing Director. Likewise, the President submitted 18 names for the South South Development Commission, with Chibudom Nwuche as Chairman and Usoro Offiong Akpabio as Managing Director. All nominations are subject to Senate screening and confirmation.

5/9/2025, 7:55:24 AM

BREAKING: Robert Francis Prevost Of The US Announced As New Pope

Robert Francis Prevost was elected on Thursday as the first-ever pope from the United States, the Vatican announced. A moderate ally of Pope Francis and former missionary in Peru, he becomes the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, adopting the papal name Leo XIV.

5/8/2025, 6:28:03 PM

JUST IN: White Smoke Signals New Pope Elected

White smoke rose from the chimney of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling that the 133 cardinals have chosen a new pope. The decision came on the second day of voting to elect a successor to Pope Francis, but the identity of the new pontiff will remain unknown until the formal announcement from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

5/8/2025, 5:19:37 PM

Bill Gates To Give Away 99 Percent Of His Fortune

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has announced plans to give away nearly all of his $200 billion fortune, keeping just one per cent for himself, as he prepares to wind down the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In a blog post on Gates Notes on Thursday, the Microsoft co-founder revealed that the foundation—one of the world’s most prominent charitable organisations—will officially shut down by December 31, 2045. “People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that “he died rich” will not be one of them. “There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people,” he said. He added, “That is why I have decided to give my money back to society much faster than I had originally planned. I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world. And on December 31, 2045, the foundation will close its doors permanently.” In a chart shared in the blog post, Gates revealed that he plans to give away 99 per cent of his wealth by 2045, leaving just one per cent, or about $1.6 billion, for himself and his family. Founded in 2000 with his now ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, the foundation has spent over $100 billion on global health, education, and poverty alleviation, helping to fund vaccine development, medical research, and emergency aid around the world. He also notes a shift from the original plan. “This is a change from our original plans. When Melinda and I started the Gates Foundation in 2000, we included a clause in the foundation’s very first charter: The organisation would sunset several decades after our deaths. A few years ago, I began to rethink that approach. “More recently, with the input from our board, I now believe we can achieve the foundation’s goals on a shorter timeline, especially if we double down on key investments and provide more certainty to our partners,” he stated. Daily Mail reports that the remaining one per cent of his fortune may ultimately go to his three adult children: Phoebe, Rory and Jennifer. Outlining the foundation’s achievements, he said, “I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished in our first 25 years. “We were central to the creation of Gavi and the Global Fund, both of which transformed the way the world procures and delivers lifesaving tools like vaccines and anti-retrovirals. Together, these two groups have saved more than 80 million lives so far. Along with Rotary International, we have been a key partner in reviving the effort to eradicate polio. “We supported the creation of a new vaccine for rotavirus that has helped reduce the number of children who die from diarrhea each year by 75 percent. Every step of the way, we brought together other foundations, non-profits, governments, multilateral agencies, and the private sector as partners to solve big problems—as we will continue to do for the next twenty years.” Despite decades of impact, the Gates Foundation has drawn criticism from some who say Gates holds too much sway over global health funding decisions. But, in an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, he remains unapologetic, saying, like any private citizen, he can choose how to spend the money he earns “I think 20 years is the right balance between giving as much as we can to make progress on these things and giving people a lot of notice that now this money will be gone,” he said.

5/8/2025, 4:04:14 PM

Again, Black Smoke At The Vatican, No Pope Yet

Thick black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on Thursday, signaling that the cardinals had once again failed to elect a new pope. In St. Peter’s Square, thousands of Catholics and curious onlookers responded with a mix of applause and disappointment following the second and third rounds of voting. The 133 cardinals tasked with choosing a successor to Pope Francis entered the secretive conclave on Wednesday evening. Cut off from the outside world, they signal voting results by burning their ballots—black smoke means no decision; white smoke means a pope has been chosen. The first plume of black smoke appeared Wednesday evening, about three hours after the conclave began, prompting sighs from the crowd. Undeterred, many returned Thursday morning as the red-robed cardinals cast two more ballots. They were expected to vote twice more in the afternoon and up to four times on Friday unless a new pope is chosen before then. “I don’t want them to rush — they should take the time to make the right choice,” said Barbara Mason, 50, who came from Canada for the historic moment. She hoped the new pontiff would follow in the progressive footsteps of Pope Francis, especially in championing the environment and the rights of migrants. Francis, the influential Argentine reformer who led the Catholic Church for 12 years, died on April 21 at age 88.

5/8/2025, 11:55:28 AM

Subscribe to our newsletter

advertisement