WAFFI TV | Feature

Easter: FG Declares Friday, Monday Public Holidays

The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21, 2025, as public holidays in observance of Good Friday and Easter Monday, marking the Christian celebration of sacrifice and resurrection. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who conveyed warm greetings to Christians nationwide on the festive occasion. He urged citizens to reflect on the selfless love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave His life for humanity's redemption. In a statement issued by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the minister also encouraged Nigerians to use the holiday period to pray for the nation's peace, unity, and stability. He reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at advancing national development and prosperity. “Furthermore, he encouraged Nigerians to extend love and goodwill to their neighbours through acts of kindness and generosity. “The Minister wished all Christians a blissful Easter celebration and extended warm holiday greetings to all Nigerians”, the statement added.

4/15/2025, 9:55:04 PM

Report To NASS For Legislative Approvals~ Reps Tell Ibas

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, on Tuesday, tasked the newly inaugurated 21-member committee with closely monitoring the activities of Rivers State's sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.). He further instructed Ibas to report directly to the National Assembly for legislative approval of all administrative actions. This directive follows the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the dissolution of the State House of Assembly. Speaker Abbas emphasized the National Assembly’s constitutional mandate to enact and amend laws for states when their legislative bodies are unable to function. In his address, Abbas reminded the committee of similar past emergencies—Plateau State in 2004, Ekiti in 2006, and Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in 2013—where the National Assembly played a pivotal role in maintaining constitutional order and governance. He cited these instances as key precedents that highlight the necessity of legislative oversight during times of crisis. The Speaker noted that the caretaker government in Rivers State, led by Rear Admiral Ibas, is a temporary measure focused on preserving law and order and maintaining essential government functions until democratic governance is reinstated. Ibas is expected to operate transparently and accountably, providing regular reports to the National Assembly as mandated by the Constitution. “The administrator must report to the National Assembly regularly on his administration’s activities to ensure that the public interest is safeguarded,” Speaker Abbas emphasized. “The ongoing emergency measures and oversight will be pivotal in ensuring the state’s smooth return to full democratic governance.”

4/15/2025, 5:47:49 PM

N300m Was A Gift, NBA Replies Rivers Administrator

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stated that the ₦300 million it received from the Rivers State Government was an unconditional donation and not linked to any supposed hosting rights for its 2025 Annual General Conference. In a statement, Emeka Obegolu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Chairman of the 2025 NBA Conference Planning Committee, clarified that the decision to hold the conference in Port Harcourt was made back in August 2024, without any bidding process or financial obligations tied to hosting rights. Obegolu was responding to comments by the Rivers State Administrator suggesting that the state government had paid to host the 2025 NBA Conference, which was initially planned for Port Harcourt. He emphasized that, due to the high cost of organizing the event, the Planning Committee typically seeks financial support from various organizations, agencies, and state governments. However, such contributions are unconditional and not linked to any hosting privileges. The NBA further clarified that gifts or financial support do not guarantee hosting rights, nor does the association make any commitment to hold the conference in a particular city based on such support.

4/15/2025, 8:42:42 AM

Rivers Magistrate Resigns Over Emergency Rule, Appointment Of Sole Administrator

The crisis over the emergency rule in Rivers State escalated on Thursday as Chief Magistrate Ejike George resigned from the state judiciary, denouncing the appointment of a Sole Administrator to manage political affairs. Magistrate George, who had served in the judiciary for 16 years, condemned the move as a dangerous departure from democratic principles, comparing it to a “quasi-military administration.” In a resignation letter dated April 11, 2025, addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge through the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, George announced his voluntary exit, citing the imposition of an “alien” and “antithetical” style of governance. He further noted, “Milord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.” Having spent 16 of his 22 years in legal practice as a Magistrate in Rivers State under various democratic governments, George said he could not continue in good conscience under the current administration. “To do so would amount to a tacit and naive acquiescence,” he added. “Thanks Milord, for the opportunity to serve,” he concluded. His resignation further fuels the rising discontent among legal and civil society groups in Rivers State. It comes shortly after the Nigerian Bar Association announced the relocation of its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu, citing a breach of democratic norms and the unlawful imposition of a Sole Administrator.

4/14/2025, 7:04:01 PM

CONFAB: Refund Rivers N300m Hosting Right, Ibas Slams NBA

Vice Admiral Ibok-Etteh Ibas (retired), Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has demanded a refund of N300 million from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which his administration paid for the hosting rights of the 2025 Annual General Conference. The NBA had earlier withdrawn the event from Rivers State, citing the declaration of a state of emergency and the collapse of democratic institutions in the state as reasons for relocating the conference to Enugu. In response to this development on Monday, Ibas stated, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its ‘principled position’—has not addressed the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.” He added, “If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”

4/14/2025, 2:21:17 PM

‘Jesus Hates Poverty, Never Visited Any Poor Person'~ Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries, has claimed that Jesus Christ strongly detests poverty and did not maintain close ties with the poor during His time on earth. In a sermon captured in a video that began trending on Sunday, Ibiyeomie told his congregation that, according to scripture, Jesus never entered a poor man’s home — a detail he interprets as evidence of divine disapproval of poverty. He further asserted that Christ’s death and resurrection were not solely for salvation, but also to liberate believers from poverty. Remaining poor after accepting Christ, he argued, indicates a lack of spiritual insight. Ibiyeomie said, “Jesus never visited any poor person in his house, check your bible. That means he hates poverty. He visited Lazarus, they were not poor, they were giving him food. “He visited a sinner, Zacchaeus, who was rich. Tell me one poor man Jesus entered his house. He hates poverty, that’s the meaning. He hates people who are poor. He died for you not to be poor. How can you now come to church with some kind of mentality? “You can come poor but you’re not permitted to remain poor. There’s nothing wrong with you coming to Christ as a poor man, but it’s wrong for you to remain poor. It is wrong.”

4/14/2025, 9:36:40 AM

Autonomy: 774 LGs Challenge FG, States In Court Tuesday

The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear a suit on Tuesday filed by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) against the Central Bank of Nigeria and others, challenging the implementation of local government autonomy. The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/353/2025, was filed by the Registered Trustees of ALGON against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, state Commissioners for Finance, and 21 additional parties. Among the other defendants are the Minister of Budget and National Planning, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, several commercial banks, and one Bello Lawal. The suit follows the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024, ruling that granted financial autonomy to local governments. ALGON is seeking a court order to stop the disbursement of funds to local governments without its consent. The association also wants the 774 local government areas to have representation at Federation Account Allocation Committee meetings where revenue distribution is determined. ALGON’s Secretary-General, Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed the hearing date to The PUNCH on Sunday. In its originating summons, ALGON trustees’ prayers include: “A declaration that, given the Supreme Court decision on 11th July 2024, in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024, between Attorney-General of Federation vs Attorney-General, Abia State and 35 Ors, Constitution of ALGON, 1999, the 1st to 8th defendants cannot disburse monies to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria, through the 9th to 23rd defendants or any other person whatsoever, without the plaintiff authorising, approving said 9th to 23rd defendants or any other person whatsoever after conducting due diligence on them to avert any diversion of the funds of the local government councils. “A declaration that, given the Supreme Court decision on July 11, 2024, the 1st to 7th defendants or any other person whatsoever cannot discuss, approve, disburse or in any other way whatsoever deal with the monies accruing to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria without the representation of the local government councils at such deliberations, discussions, committees, howsoever called, including at the Federation Account Allocation Committee chaired by the 2nd defendant.” Furthermore, ALGON contends that, while the Supreme Court judgment intends to liberate the local government administration, the AGF, Ministry of Finance, state Commissioners of Finance and CBN have taken “precipitate action to frustrate the implementation of the decision.” ALGON, through its counsel, Okechukwu Uju-Azorji, further claimed that the 9th to 23rd defendants, which are the commercial banks, are already taking steps “to be the conduit pipe or warehouse from which any money or allocation meant for the local government councils will be collected.”

4/14/2025, 7:26:44 AM

US Court Orders FBI, DEA To Release Investigative Files On Tinubu Over 1990s Drug Probe

A U.S. federal judge has ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records related to an alleged drug trafficking investigation from the 1990s involving Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As reported by PREMIUM TIMES, Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued the ruling on Tuesday, rejecting the agencies’ attempts to withhold the documents using the "Glomar response" — a policy allowing them to neither confirm nor deny the existence of certain records. Judge Howell found the Glomar justification inadequate, stating: “The claim that the Glomar responses were necessary to protect this information from public disclosure is at this point neither logical nor plausible.” She ruled that both agencies failed to meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The lawsuit was brought by Aaron Greenspan, an American transparency advocate and founder of PlainSite.org, who filed 12 FOIA requests in June 2023 targeting several U.S. agencies. These requests sought records concerning a federal investigation into a heroin trafficking network allegedly involving Tinubu and associates such as Abiodun Agbele, Mueez Akande, and Lee Andrew Edwards. Initially, the FBI, DEA, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), State Department, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) denied Greenspan’s requests, all invoking Glomar responses. Greenspan argued in court that the withheld information was of critical public interest. He referenced a 1993 U.S. Department of Justice complaint seeking the forfeiture of $460,000 linked to Tinubu — funds the government claimed were proceeds of drug trafficking. The case file included an affidavit from then-IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss, who outlined a heroin ring operating in the Chicago area. Moss asserted there was probable cause to believe bank accounts controlled by Tinubu were involved in laundering drug proceeds. The affidavit also connected Tinubu to Akande and Agbele, the latter of whom was arrested for selling heroin to an undercover DEA agent and later cooperated with authorities. President Tinubu intervened in the case in October 2023, citing privacy concerns and opposing the release of confidential tax and law enforcement documents. However, Judge Howell ruled that the public’s right to know outweighed Tinubu’s privacy claims, stating: “The public interest in learning about a sitting president’s possible connection to a major drug investigation is undeniably significant.” While the CIA successfully defended its Glomar response—since Greenspan failed to prove that the agency had acknowledged any related records—Judge Howell ordered the remaining agencies (excluding the CIA) to jointly submit a status report by May 2. Legal experts suggest the ruling could lead to the release of sensitive documents long shrouded in controversy and political debate in Nigeria. The 1993 forfeiture of $460,000 reemerged as a topic during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, with Tinubu’s opponents questioning his eligibility. However, those challenges were dismissed by the country’s election tribunal. Following the court's decision, Greenspan issued a public statement in response. Reacting to the U.S. court’s decision, Greenspan said in a statement, “Transparency must prevail over secrecy when it comes to public officials. The American public, as well as Nigerians, deserve to know the truth.”

4/13/2025, 1:21:14 PM

'Tompolo Is Not Just A Man, He’s A Movement' ~ Agediga Hails Niger Delta Icon on Birthday

The Chairman of the Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board, Comrade Shedrack Agediga, has extended birthday greetings to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, lauding him as a symbol of justice, peace, and empowerment in the Niger Delta. In a message released on behalf of his family, friends, and associates, Comrade Agediga described Tompolo as “a true icon of the Niger Delta struggle, a beacon of justice, and an extraordinary son of the Ijaw nation.” As head of the state’s bursary and scholarship board, Agediga acknowledged the visible impact of Tompolo’s efforts in promoting education and capacity-building initiatives for the youth. He said, "On this special occasion of your birthday, I, Comrade Shedrack Agediga, on behalf of my family, friends and associates, extend my warmest felicitation to a true icon of the Niger Delta struggle, a beacon of justice, and an extraordinary son of the Ijaw nation — High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo). "Your life has been one of unwavering courage, selfless service, and undiluted love for your people. You are not only a leader but a movement. Your sacrifices and tireless efforts have carved a path for peace, justice, and development in the creeks and beyond. "As the Chairman of the Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board, I have seen firsthand the ripple effects of your contributions to the empowerment of our youths through education and capacity-building initiatives. Your voice continues to echo hope, your actions continue to inspire, and your legacy continues to grow. "On this day, I pray that the Almighty God blesses you with greater strength, long life, and peace of mind to continue your noble mission for our people.

4/12/2025, 10:44:41 PM

PAP Administrator Otuaro Celebrates Tompolo At 54

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), High Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Chairman of TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, on the occasion of his 54th birthday. In a statement signed on Saturday by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Otuaro described Tompolo as a humble, selfless, and visionary leader who has devoted his life to the protection, liberation, and development of Ijaw land and the broader Niger Delta region. He emphasized that Tompolo’s legacy as a frontline freedom fighter is defined by his immense sacrifices and far-reaching contributions to the socio-economic and political advancement of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta, describing them as monumental and immeasurable. The PAP Administrator lauded the Izon-Ebi Dou Keme of the Ijaw nation as a generous philanthropist and a pillar of community development, whose life serves as a source of hope and inspiration to many young people across the region. Dr. Otuaro highlighted Tompolo’s unwavering commitment to peace, unity, progress, and stability in the Niger Delta, noting that his contributions to national development through TANTITA’s effective protection of vital oil infrastructure have led to a significant boost in oil revenue for the country’s collective prosperity. He further acknowledged that under Tompolo’s leadership, TANTITA has positively impacted over 40,000 Niger Delta youths through gainful employment, educational scholarships, and other empowerment initiatives, creating sustainable opportunities for a better future. Dr. Otuaro also commended Tompolo’s deep-rooted belief in Ijaw cultural heritage and tradition, which continues to guide his spiritual direction and strengthen his resolve. He urged Tompolo to remain steadfast in his noble service to Ijaw land, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria, and to continue his philanthropic pursuits for the benefit of society and humanity. Wishing him well on this special occasion, Dr. Otuaro prayed for God’s grace and strength to enable Tompolo to achieve even greater milestones in the years ahead.

4/12/2025, 7:49:10 PM

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