General
Why I’m Very Popular With Kwara People—Governor
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
**To Receive Another N200m Recovered Looted Funds
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked his administration to receive another N200 million recovered looted funds.
The Governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, on Friday, said the state government under him will do the right thing so as not to be a regular visitor to the office of the anti-graft agency after his tenure like his predecessors.
“We have to do the right thing and be cautious. We have seen what has happened to those that have been in (this) position before us. Nobody wants to live office and be going to EFCC’s office daily.
“So, we will do the right thing in Kwara State state. We appreciate the EFCC, they had earlier given us over N100 million. They have invited us (again) to collect another N200 million (recovered looted funds); they have made a lot of progress,” Mr AbdulRazaq was quoted as saying when he took part in a marathon anti-corruption walk in Ilorin, the state capital, today.
In the over two-hour walk themed Nigerian Youths Walk Against Corruption and organised by the EFCC in partnership with the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), the Governor was joined by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Yakubu Danladi; zonal head of EFCC, Mr Isyaku Sharu; State Coordinator of the NYSC, Ms Esther Ikupolati; members of the House of Assembly; hundreds of members of the NYSC; artisans; and civil society organisations.
The walk was one of the EFCC’s public awareness programmes to draw attention to the danger of corruption.
Mr AbdulRazaq, who arrived the EFCC office at 7am and joined the walk from the beginning to the end, repeated President Muhammadu Buhari’s refrain that corruption would kill the country if the country fails to kill the cancer that the Governor said was responsible for the slow pace of development.
“We have been walking the talk, now we are walking in support of the war (against corruption). The message is very clear: kill corruption or it will kill us all,” he said.
Asked what he thought was the reason for Kwarans always wanting to catch a glimpse of him at every opportunity he moves around, Mr AbdulRazaq said the excitement apparently flows from his investment in projects that have direct impact on the masses such as water, health, education, and roads, as well as his constant identification with the people.
“We remain popular with the people because we have invested and are still investing in projects that really make the difference in their lives. We have restored water after many years. We have invested in basic health care, education, and road and people can tell the difference,” he said when the walk terminated at the EFCC office.
Mr Danladi said the corruption crusade requires the support of all Nigerians to succeed, asserting that graft is deadlier to the society than HIV/AIDS and must be stamped out, especially in Kwara where he lamented how billions of naira have been diverted to private pockets at the expense of the masses.
He also lamented the negative impacts of internet fraud on the country and called on the youths to shun it.
Mr Sharu, who lauded Mr AbdulRazaq for being an anti-graft crusader, said the agency has recorded 48 convictions and recovered at least N8.5 billion in cash and properties in Kwara since it began operation last year.
Mr Sharu said the agency is also probing the alleged diversion of over N3bn from the controversial Light Up Kwara project.
“We are also on top of the case of Light Up Kwara where over three billion naira was allegedly diverted. Part of the diverted fund was used to buy a property in Guzape Abuja. Some recoveries were also made,” he said.
Mr Sharu called on the youths to stop celebrating corrupt elements and support anti-corruption crusade through the government’s whistle blower policy because they are the worst hit by the effects of diversion of public funds.
“What we saw last Monday at the Federal High Court Ilorin was a show of shame and national embarrassment by some group of youth who came out en masse to show solidarity to an accused person charged for money laundering by the EFCC. The media houses have all carried the picture of the said accused person waiving hands to those shameless youths. This is indeed sad,” according to the local anti-corruption chief.
Ms Ikupolati also urged youths to support the crusade against corruption as their future depends on how much Nigeria is able to grow, warning graft makes development a mirage.
She commended Governor AbdulRazaq for the phenomenal transformation of the NYSC camp at Yikpata since he assumed office in May, recalling how the Governor’s visit and his experience led him to totally improve the facilities at the camp.
“Today, Kwara now has a camp that is like a five-star hotel. It has never been so good. We now have water running and our story has changed completely,” Ms Ikupolati said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, has lamented how “people now defraud the government and individuals and invest in real estate.”
He raised this concern when he received the executives of the Association of Real Estate and Property Managers (AREAPM) in Edo State on Wednesday.
The EFCC chief, represented by the acting Zonal Director and Deputy Commander of the Commission, Mr Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, warned real estate managers against money laundering.
“We have noted with grave concern that fraudsters are laundering money and hiding proceeds of crime through real estate and property. People now defraud the government and individuals and invest in real estate,” he stated.
He noted that the agency would continue to discharge its statutory mandate of bringing those who seek to circumvent the system to book.
“As a commission, we recognise the role of Real Estate and Property Managers. Property Managers are designated non-financial businesses and professions.
“So, we expect them to be professionals and uphold the relevant rules and regulations in the discharge of their duties,” he stated, adding that, “The commission will apply the laws when there is a breach of relevant rules and regulations.”
He assured the AREAPM executives of the organisation’s willingness to collaborate with them in dealing with fraud and criminality in the sector.
“We have a unit, the Land and Property Fraud Section, which attends to issues in that regard. So, when you have challenges, you can report to us,” he stated.
In his remarks, the chairman of AREAPM in Edo State, Mr Akpesiri Michael Egbonoje, stated that the essence of the visit was to seek areas of collaboration with the commission and work out ways of combating real estate financial crimes and fraud in the state.
“Part of our strategy is to familiarise ourselves with law enforcement agencies in the state and seek for collaborative relationships. As a body, we cannot do it alone; we need help in the areas of financial crimes.
“We have tried to sanitise the space, but we realised that your agency is at the apex when it comes to dealing with financial crimes.
“We believe that structured collaboration between AREARM and the EFCC will promote financial transparency, investor confidence, and accountability within the real estate sector.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Coroner’s Court sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court has announced April 14, 2026, for the commencement of an inquiry into the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, son of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege.
Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji fixed the date on Wednesday when the matter came up before the court.
The twin child, Nkanu, died on January 7, 2026, after receiving care at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
The child was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital in Lagos for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness.
The family had sought initial care as arrangements were being made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States. Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line.
However, the child passed away following the procedures.
His parents have alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.
According to a leaked internal message sent privately to family members and close friends at the time, Ms Adichie blamed the staff of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, located in Victoria Island, Lagos, for causing the demise of the lad.
“My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th,” she wrote in a broadcast message confirmed later on.
“We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working? This must never happen to another child,” she also wrote in the lengthy message.
The 48-year-old writer had her first child, a daughter, in 2016. In 2024, her twin boys were born using a surrogate.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the case against former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai, to April 23 for arraignment.
The Department of State Services (DSS) filed a three-count charge against Mr El-Rufai for the alleged unlawful interception of communications, linked to remarks he made during a television interview. It was alleged that Mr El-Rufai’s actions contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The court had earlier fixed February 25 for the former governor’s arraignment, but he was absent during Wednesday’s proceedings.
Counsel for the DSS, Mr Oluwole Aladedoyin, informed the court that the former governor is still in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), where he is under investigation for alleged misappropriation of funds.
This prompted the judge to adjourn the case to April 23 for arraignment.
Meanwhile, the former Kaduna governor has filed a suit in response to Charge Number FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 instituted against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The application contends that the prosecution violates several constitutional provisions that breach El-Rufai’s fundamental rights, including Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence; Section 36(11), which provides for the right against self-incrimination; Section 36(12), which requires that offences be defined in written law; as well as Sections 39 and 40, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association, respectively.
Mr El-Rufai’s motion is praying the court for: “An Order quashing and/or striking out Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026 (as contained in the charge dated February 16, 2026) for being incompetent, for disclosing no offence known to law, and for constituting a gross abuse of court process.
An Order discharging the defendant/applicant on the ground that the charge discloses no prima facie case against him.
He is equally seeking an order awarding the sum of N2 billion as costs against the secret police (acting through its prosecuting counsel) for the abuse and misuse of the court process, and the egregious, reckless, and unconstitutional misuse of the criminal justice system to harass, embarrass, and publicly victimise him.
The suit, which cites 17 grounds for seeking the dismissal of the charges, was filed on 17 February 2023.
His lawyers notified the Director General of the DSS of the processes that they have filed in the matter via a letter dated 18th February. The letter also formally informed the DSS regarding the legal representatives of Mr El-Rufai and the names and addresses of his team of counsel.
The grounds cited in the motion seeking the dismissal of the charges include: their constitutional invalidity, lack of disclosure of a prima facie case, citing offences not known to law and failure to meet statutory conditions.
Other grounds cited include fatal duplicity and absence of evidence, lack of prosecutorial competence, the impermeable nature of the constitutional right against self-incrimination, bad faith, political persecution and abuse of court process.
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