National
2027:Prof Kailani Alleged Conspiracy Against Tinubu
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Director General of the Confederation of All Progressives Congress Support Groups (CASG), Prof. Kailani Muhammad, has warned President Bola Tinubu to be vigilant, as there is a conspiracy against him ahead of 2027.
Prof. Kailani stated this during the presentation of an Award of Excellence in National Service to him by the Supreme Head of the Nzuko Nd’Imo Organization (NNIO) Worldwide in Abuja over the weekend.
Prof. Kailani said, “Our president should open his eyes because, in the north, there is a conspiracy against him for 2027, especially from the Northern Elders Forum and some groups, as reported in the newspapers today.”
While assuring him of their support, the Director General stated that Tinubu should consider appointing members of the confederation of all APC support groups.
In his words: “If he does that, we will definitely back him. We want him to do the right thing. He should come and uplift the support groups. Up till now, we have not seen any appointments.
“Nobody gave anybody a kobo. We have over 184,000 support groups nationwide and about 184,000 polling units. We manned them and ensured he won the election. So, we are waiting. We will support him, but he has to do the right thing.
“We want economic prosperity and physical upliftment in the country. All moribund factories must be revived and brought back, and all our companies should start working. This will help the economy.
“It is not the inducement of dollars into liquidity that will bring succour. No. Agriculture must be brought back in earnest.
“We are going to give our president a blueprint for him to succeed, but he has to check on us. We are professionals, engineers, and seasoned administrators.”
Speaking on the awards, he said, “I feel like I’m touching the sky today because we have been recognized by our Igbo brothers and sisters from the southeast.
“We are going to continue to do the right thing to move Nigeria forward. This means that anything you are doing, people are watching you.”
The president of the group, Prof. Chris Ogbonna, stated that Prof. Kailani Muhammad may be popular nationally because of his efforts in the Confederation of APC Support Groups.
He said the group facilitated the achievement of the dreams of Jagaban, Bola Tinubu, into reality as president and commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, this effort has deepened democracy in this country. Posterity will never forget this record.
“Professor Kailani’s efforts in electrical engineering and the humble, unselfish, and committed support he is giving the British American University (BAU), Florida, USA, to develop, is a case we are all interested in.”
“We thank Prof. Kailani and appreciate Prof. Omolaja. Today, we present you both with our Award of Excellence in National Service, because we are beneficiaries of your combined efforts in elevating education and good governance in Nigeria and internationally.”
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kogi-born political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, in Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out on the directive of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Video footage obtained by Elanza shows heavily armed security operatives storming Okai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory before taking him away.
While no official reason has been given for his arrest, sources suggest it may be connected to his outspoken criticism of the Kogi State government.
Okai, a well-known opposition figure, has frequently condemned the administration’s policies and governance.
His wife, speaking to reporters, claimed that the DSS operatives did not present an arrest warrant before detaining him.
“They came to arrest him at our home in Abuja without a warrant,” she said.
“They ransacked our house, forced their way inside, and took him away. I asked for a warrant, but they had none.”
She further alleged that Okai’s personal gadgets were confiscated during the operation.
As of the time of this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement regarding Okai’s detention.