News
President Tinubu Urged to Take Strong Action Against Corrupt Officials
…. Extending Investigations to the Oil and Gas Sector
By Abubakar Yunusa
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from accommodating or engaging in negotiations with former government officials who have been involved in looting the nation’s treasury.
In a statement released in Abuja, Frank expressed concern that the President’s initial enthusiasm in pursuing corrupt elements seems to have waned or disappeared entirely.
President Tinubu Urged to Take Strong Action Against Corrupt Officials
Timi Frank Raises Alarm Over Threats to Life Allegedly From ex-Minister Sylva
Frank urged President Tinubu to intensify efforts to hold corrupt officials accountable for their actions. This would ensure that the ongoing investigation and arrest of individuals such as Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank, and AbdulRasheed Bawa, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, are not perceived as driven by personal vendettas.
Furthermore, Frank advised President Tinubu against rewarding ex-governors and ex-ministers facing corruption charges or criminal allegations with fresh appointments. Such actions would undermine the integrity of the anti-corruption campaign and trivialize the fight against corruption.
Frank called upon the security agencies operating under Tinubu’s leadership to expand their investigations into the oil and gas sector.
He emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who illicitly benefited from the fuel subsidy regime and engaged in fraudulent practices regarding daily PMS consumption. It is essential to ensure that these individuals repay the funds they looted from the nation.
Frank expressed concern about perceived negotiations with looters by Tinubu’s government, which has potentially hindered further actions against corrupt individuals.
He highlighted the expectation of the Nigerian populace for more arrests and prosecutions, as they had applauded the President’s initial actions against corruption. Failing to bring looters to justice could undermine the fight against corruption and perpetuate a sense of impunity.
Frank cautioned that if caution is not exercised, the arrests of Emefiele and Bawa may turn out to be mere isolated incidents.
He expressed doubt about the President’s commitment to genuinely combat corruption, suggesting that the anti-corruption drive might target individuals based on their support or lack thereof during his bid for the presidency.
Frank expressed disappointment at the inclusion of former political officeholders with known corrupt tendencies in Tinubu’s cabinet.
He cited examples such as Senator Godswill Akpabio and Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, whose past actions raised corruption allegations but have now been appointed to key positions.
This pattern raises concerns about the potential reward of looters with significant positions of power.
Moreover, Frank pointed out that several former governors and ex-ministers, despite being the subjects of numerous petitions to the EFCC, are seeking positions in the present administration. This situation risks perpetuating a system where individuals accused of corruption continue to hold influential roles.
Frank drew attention to the hardships faced by the poor as a result of policies implemented by Tinubu, such as the removal of fuel subsidies. He stressed the importance of not allowing those who fraudulently benefited from subsidy schemes to evade consequences while ordinary Nigerians suffer from rising living costs.
Frank concluded by reminding President Tinubu that Nigerians and the international community are closely watching his anti-graft efforts.
He emphasized the need for genuine commitment to the fight against corruption, rather than the perception of merely targeting individuals like Emefiele and Bawa.
Timi Frank’s appeal serves as a reminder of the critical importance of upholding accountability and justice in Nigeria. It is imperative for President Tinubu to take strong action against corrupt officials, to restore public trust, and to demonstrate a firm commitment to combating corruption.
The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.
Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”
According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and continued detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure, describing it as a violation of due process.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku said Kazaure’s detention reflects a brazen disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-graft agency of operating beyond the limits of the Nigerian Constitution.
Atiku alleged that the EFCC is increasingly becoming a tool for political repression, citing what he called a troubling pattern of lawlessness under the current administration.
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.”
Atiku also referenced the recent arrest of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, whose release followed intense public pressure. He suggested that Kazaure’s case fits into a broader trend of state institutions being used to silence dissenting voices.
“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure.
“Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.
“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law. The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency.
“It’s deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has ignited social media buzz after posting a 15-second TikTok video set to the trending song Omo Ologo — a track closely linked with President Bola Tinubu.
The video, shared on her TikTok page on May 8, shows the embattled lawmaker smiling and playfully interacting with the camera. Captioned, “Just for fun, song choked,” the post has drawn mixed reactions online, with some interpreting it as a light-hearted moment, while others suspect a deeper political undertone.
The video comes just days after the song Omo Ologo was performed live by Kano-based singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara during a dinner in Katsina State held in honour of President Tinubu, who was on a two-day working visit to assess security in the region.
The song, which blends Hausa and Yoruba, praises Tinubu as a victorious leader who has outlasted his critics.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s TikTok post follows a series of dramatic exchanges between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senator was suspended from the upper legislative chamber in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment — an allegation that triggered heated debate in the National Assembly.
In what appeared to be a bold response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan recently posted a sarcastic apology video to Akpabio on Facebook, in which she claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”
The post was accompanied by a short video, further fueling controversy.
Akpabio’s legal team has since approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the senator to delete the post from her social media pages.
In a counter-affidavit filed by her lawyer, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp described the motion as an attempt to silence and intimidate her.
The court is expected to rule on the matter on May 12.