The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stated on Friday that it has not officially recognized former Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, as the party's leader in the state. This clarification was made in a statement signed by the APC's State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo. The statement serves as a rebuttal to the remarks of the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, on the leadership situation in Delta State. Onojeghuo said, “Barr. Morka’s unilateral statement that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is the leader of the APC in Delta State is not only false and insensitive to the collective efforts of Party stakeholders working tirelessly to grow the Party, but it is also entirely unfounded and does not reflect the official position of the Party in Delta State.” According to him, “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Publicity Secretary does not possess any authority to unilaterally declare any individual as the leader of the APC in Delta State, and his comments are, at best, personal ramblings. “It is imperative to clarify that the position of State Party leader is neither stipulated in the APC constitution nor subject to appointment by any individual, including the National Publicity Secretary. “At the moment, Delta APC has not officially recognized Senator Omo-Agege as the leader of the Party in the State.” He said, “Barrister Felix Morka’s statement reflects a lack of understanding of the political realities in Delta APC and the genuine desire of Party members to foster unity and progress. His attempt to impose a leader on the Party, in disregard of the roles and contributions of other critical stakeholders who have worked diligently to advance the Party’s fortunes in the State, is, to say the least, lamentable.” He noted that “The Delta State APC remains committed to building a formidable, inclusive, and progressive political platform.” He also warned that, “We will not allow such divisive and whimsical declarations to derail our collective efforts. We call on all Party members to disregard the misleading claim and remain focused on strengthening our Party ahead of future political engagements. “While we acknowledge the contributions of all stakeholders, including Senator Omo-Agege, the leadership of Delta APC remains a collective responsibility, guided by due process and internal democracy. “We urge all members of the Party and the general public not to be hoodwinked by the arbitrary assertion made by Barr. Morka, as it is self-serving and does not represent the official position of the APC in Delta State. “It is regrettable that, lately, the National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Morka, has chosen to make such arrogant and condescending pronouncements, which are not only misleading but also insensitive to the structures and principles that govern our Party. “The APC in Delta State operates under a democratic framework, where leadership is a collective and collaborative process, not the arbitrary declaration of any national officer. “Barr. Morka’s comments are not only inappropriate but also capable of causing unnecessary tension and division within our Party. At a time when unity is paramount, we strongly advise him against making inflammatory statements that could destabilize the Party and distract us from our collective goal of strengthening the APC in Delta State. “We urge all members of our great Party to disregard this unauthorized declaration and remain focused on building a stronger and more inclusive APC in Delta State. “Furthermore, we also call on the national leadership of our Party to restrain Barr. Felix Morka from making such unbridled, disruptive statements, which do not reflect the will of Delta APC, and to ensure that they are avoided in the future in order not to throw the Party into unwanted chaos. “Delta APC remains committed to working in harmony with all stakeholders and the national leadership of our great Party to ensure that our collective interests are safeguarded.”

After the expiration of its 48-hour ultimatum, the Rivers State House of Assembly has granted the Chairman and commissioners of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) an additional 72 hours to appear before it. The decision was made during Friday’s plenary in Port Harcourt following a request by lawmaker Enemi George. The House agreed to extend the deadline to Monday, March 10, to allow RSIEC Chairman, Justice Enebeli, to appear. To accommodate this, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol moved a motion to suspend the Assembly’s recess. Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Amaewhule noted that the House has taken legislative notice of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s failure to present the 2025 budget and assured that appropriate action will be taken in due course.

Dr. Doyin Okupe, a renowned Nigerian physician, politician, and former presidential aide, has passed away at 72. Sources close to the family revealed that he had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his death, with his health deteriorating significantly, causing concern among loved ones and supporters. It was confirmed that he succumbed to cancer after a prolonged battle with the disease. In October 2023, it was reported that Okupe had been hospitalized for prostate cancer and flown to Israel for treatment. However, his condition did not improve as hoped. Okupe was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years ago and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder. Sahara Repoters

An official from the American International School, Abuja, testified before the Federal High Court on Wednesday that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, paid $1,606,763.68 in tuition fees for his children. The payment included an advance of $845,852 for his younger children’s future enrollment. Nicholas Ojehomon, an auditor at the school, revealed this while testifying as a prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He confirmed that the payments covered tuition until graduation, with the sum paid in two tranches, one as an advance. Bello is currently facing an N80.2 billion fraud charge. During the trial, financial records from the school were presented, detailing the transactions. A previous hearing on January 29 featured Williams Abimbola, a UBA compliance officer, who tendered documents showing related transactions. The EFCC alleged that Bello paid $760,000 as an advance shortly before leaving office, which was later refunded after investigations. Ojehomon testified that Bello’s brother, Ali Bello, facilitated the payments, contacting the school on August 13 to arrange prepayment for the children’s tuition. He disclosed that fees were paid for four children in Grades 8, 6, 4, and 2, as well as for future enrollments. The payments included: $90,074 for Grade 8 $87,470 for Grade 6 $26,241 for Grade 4 $18,707 for Grade 2 The EFCC submitted school admission and prepaid tuition fee documents as evidence. Ojehomon confirmed that $760,910.84 was refunded to an EFCC-provided Central Bank of Nigeria account. Further testimony from Williams, a second EFCC witness from UBA, detailed multiple cheque withdrawals from the Kogi State Government House account, often in N10 million tranches. These transactions were primarily issued to Abdulsalam Hudu and Aminu J.O. Under cross-examination, Williams admitted that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any transactions related to the Kogi Government House account. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the trial to Friday, March 6, for continuation.

Tensions have escalated in Rivers State as the Niger Delta Rescue Movement threatened to attack oil installations over the ongoing political crisis and alleged withholding of the state’s federal allocation. The group also warned non-indigenes to leave for their safety, claiming hostilities were imminent. In response, the Rivers State Police Command pledged to suppress any threats to national security, asserting that no group holds a monopoly on violence. Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju assured residents that security forces were ready to prevent disruptions and warned against attempts to destabilize the state. Adepoju dismissed the threats by the militants or others, saying the police were equal to the task. He stated, “You see, we are taking this thing one step at a time. There is nobody that has a monopoly of violence. If fire is coming from heaven, it will not consume only one person, definitely everybody will be consumed. “So, nobody can threaten anybody, we are handling the situation the way we should and we are ready for anything that is going to come. “All eyes are on Rivers State now. I don’t think there is any problem here really, but we will not allow anybody to heat the polity. “You cannot fight the government and the governor himself has been handling the situation very maturely and well. So nothing will happen. The man on the ground (governor) is peaceful and God is on the throne and we are equal to the task.” Reacting to the threat, a viral video circulating on social media on Thursday shows about eight militants armed with AK-47s and other assorted rifles in a forested area, chanting war songs and vowing to disrupt oil production unless the Federal Government intervenes to resolve the political impasse. The chant of “asawana, asawana,” a common slogan among the Ijaw people of the Niger Delta, is heard as the militants brandish their weapons in the video. The militants accused the Martin Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly of instigating chaos to justify a state of emergency. A supposed leader of the group read a letter: “We the Niger Delta Rescue Movement wish to express our deep concern regarding the recent development in Rivers State, threatening the smooth governance of our beloved state under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. “It has come to our attention that certain individuals proclaim as lawmakers have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state governor to present the 2025 state budget. “This blatant attempt to destabilise the state is not only alarming but also a clear attempt at a coordinated effort to incite hell, potentially to lead to a state of emergency or even an impeachment. “We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and put a stop to the action of Minister Nyesom Wike and his associates whose intent is to drag Rivers State to avoidable crises.” He further warned “Furthermore, we must make it abundantly clear that the youth of Rivers State will not sit idly while our state is dragged into tumult. “If the federal allocation due to Rivers State cannot be released promptly, we will have no choice but to take decisive action, including hitting oil production.” The video lasted for slightly over three minutes, as the militants said, “We can’t generate money into the federation account and not have our own share. “Our workers deserve their salaries, our government needs the necessary resources to carry out essential development projects. “We urge all non-indigenes in Rivers State to consider their safety and leave the state promptly as the situation may escalate.”

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has directed Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to pay N5 million in legal costs to 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The ruling was delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim in an appeal filed by the lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, challenging a Court of Appeal judgment. The Rivers State House of Assembly and Amaewhule were listed as applicants in the case. Respondents in the appeal included the Rivers State government, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, its chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), the Central Bank of Nigeria, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, the Accountant General of the Federation, Governor Fubara, the Accountant General of Rivers State, and the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice S. C. Amadi. Governor Fubara was listed as the 8th respondent, while the Rivers State government was the 1st respondent. The Supreme Court upheld the concurrent findings of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, ruling that Governor Fubara engaged in unlawful and unconstitutional actions aimed at undermining the State Assembly, violating the Nigerian Constitution, and thwarting alleged impeachment efforts by opposition lawmakers. Justice Agim stated, “The concurrent findings of facts in the Court of Appeal Judgment in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/20249 (exhibit RSHA 5) indicate that some months after the 8th respondent was elected and sworn in as Governor of Rivers State in 2023, he began to fear that, instigated by his political opponents, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were planning or initiating proceedings to impeach and remove him from office as Governor of the State. “That to pre-empt his said impeachment, 8th respondent took several steps such as attempting to get the National Assembly to take over the exercise of the legislative powers of Rivers State from the Rivers State House of Assembly, preventing the Rivers State House of Assembly from sitting with its complete members or constitutionally prescribed quorum of one-third of the 32 members and arranged for initially 4 members and subsequently 3 members to be sitting as Rivers State House of Assembly outside the Legislative building of the Rivers State House of Assembly, withholding Rivers State House of Assembly funds, removing the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, using caterpillars, bulldozers and other earth moving vehicles and equipment to pull down, dismantle and destroy the legislative building of the Rivers State House of Assembly." The apex court also knocked Fubara for preventing the lawmakers and other staff of the Rivers State House of Assembly “from having access to the House of Assembly Complex to do official work and engaging in all these actions in disobedience of interim restraining orders of Courts that were obtained by the said 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in suits to restrain these actions”. It said, “These series of actions by the 8th respondent caused the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023 against the National Assembly, the 8th respondent, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police and others. “The concurrent finding of fact by the Court of Appeal in its Judgment in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024 is that the 8th respondent admitted engaging in all these activities. “What is clear from the above concurrent findings is that the 8th respondent started the prevention of the sittings of the Rivers State House of Assembly constituted by the number of members as prescribed by S.96 of the 1999 Constitution long before the issue of the remaining 27 members defecting to another political party arose.”

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed for second reading a bill proposing the creation of an Independent Authority to oversee the registration, regulation, and funding of political parties in Nigeria. Co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Marcus Onobun (Edo State), the bill seeks to transfer political party registration and oversight from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a new independent body. Defending the bill, Onobun stated: “INEC should not regulate political parties while also conducting elections. A separate authority will ensure compliance with constitutional requirements and enhance election transparency.” Key provisions of the bill include: Establishment of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to handle political party registration and supervision. Creation of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to resolve intra-party, inter-party, and independent candidate conflicts. Penalties for political party violations to promote transparency and accountability. Amendment of Sections 75–81 of the Electoral Act 2022, removing political party registration from INEC’s responsibilities. The bill received strong support during a voice vote conducted by Speaker Abbas and was referred to the Committees on Electoral Matters and Political Party Matters for further review.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $1.4 million linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele. Justice Olayinka Faji, in a ruling on Thursday, upheld the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s claim that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities and must be surrendered to the Federal Government. EFCC counsel Bilkisu Bahari-Bala told the court that $1,426,175.14 was discovered in Donatone Limited’s Titan Trust Bank account (No. 2000000500) and linked to fraudulent activities. An affidavit by EFCC investigator David Jayeoba revealed that intelligence reports exposed concealed funds in Donatone Limited’s account. The investigation traced a scheme involving Emefiele and his associates, including Donatone Limited directors Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi, who allegedly helped hide the illicit proceeds. Court documents also identified Anthony and Olurotimi as key figures behind the fraudulent concealment of funds suspected to be linked to Emefiele’s unlawful activities. “That both men were procured by Emefiele and used to conceal, retain and disguise funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. “That both men used Donatone Ltd to collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Emefiele to get approval for accessing Forex.”

The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions recommended her suspension on Thursday, March 6, 2024. During this period, her salary and security details will be withdrawn. The committee also ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan must stay away from the National Assembly throughout her suspension. Her suspension follows a controversy sparked by her formal petition accusing Akpabio of misconduct.

A militant group, the Niger Delta Rescue Movement, has threatened to attack oil installations in the Niger Delta over the withholding of funds allocated to Rivers State. The group also urged non-indigenes in Rivers State to leave for their safety, warning that hostilities were imminent. A viral social media video, which surfaced on Thursday, showed about eight armed militants in an undisclosed forest wielding AK-47s and other rifles while chanting and singing war songs. They were heard chanting “asawana, asawana,” a popular slogan among the Ijaw people of the Niger Delta, as they brandished their weapons. They said the action of the Martin Amaewhile led 27 lawmakers is to cause anarchy in the state and pave the way for the declaration of a state of emergency. One of them who spoke said, “We the Niger Delta Rescue Movement wish to express our deep concern regarding the recent development in Rivers state threatening the smooth governance of our beloved state under the leadership of Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.” A supposed leader of the group declared in a letter he read. “It has come to our attention that certain individuals proclaim as lawmakers have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state governor to present the 2025 state budget. “This blatant attempt to destabilise the state is not only alarming but also a clear attempt to a coordinated effort to incite hell potentially to lead to a state of emergency or even an impeachment. “We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and put a stop to the action of the Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his associate whose intent is to drag Rivers state to avoidable crisis. “The people of Rivers state like stability, progress and a conducive environment for governance.” He continued, “Furthermore, we must make it abundantly clear that the youths of Rivers state will not sit idly while our state is dragged into tumult. If the federal allocation due to Rivers state cannot be released promptly, we will have no choice but to take a decisive action, including hitting oil production. ” The video, which lasted for slightly over three minutes, also showed the militants saying, “We can’t generate money into the federation account and not have our own share. “Our workers deserve their salaries, our government needs the necessary resources to carry out essential development projects. “We urge all non-indigenes in Rivers state to consider their safety and leave the state promptly as the situation may escalate. “We cherish the safety of all residents and urge for a peaceful resolution to this crisis. Enough is enough! We stand united for the rest and future of Rivers state. We demand respect from our leaders and focus on the development of our region.”