Sunshine Reporters

Category: Uncategorized

  • FULL LIST: FG Names Tukur Mamu, Simon Njoku, IPOB Among 48 Individuals, 12 Entities In Fresh Terror-Financing List

    The list, published on the website of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), disclosed the nationalities of those named, their specific roles, and the terrorist groups they were allegedly connected to.

    The Nigerian government has released a list of 48 individuals and 12 corporate entities allegedly linked to terrorism financing in Nigeria.

    The disclosure forms part of ongoing efforts to curb the funding of extremist activities.

    The list, published on the website of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC), disclosed the nationalities of those named, their specific roles, and the terrorist groups they were allegedly connected to.

    The Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC) operates under the authority of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which coordinates its activities within the national security framework.

    Its core mandates include the implementation of United Nations sanctions, particularly those targeting terrorism financing, ensuring compliance with international obligations, and facilitating coordination among agencies such as financial intelligence, defense, and foreign affairs.

    Those named in the latest released include Abdulsamat Ohida, Mohammed Sani, Abdurrahman Abdurrahman, Fatima Ishaq, Tukur Mamu, Yusuf Ghazali, Muhammad Sani, Abubakar Muhammad, Sallamudeen Hassan, Adamu Ishak, Hassana Isah, Abdulkarim Musa, Umar Abdullahi, Abdurrahman Ado, Bashir Yusuf, Ibrahim Alhassan, Muhammad Isah, Salihu Adamu, and Surajo Mohammad.

    Others include Fannami Bukar, Muhammed Musa, Sahabi Ismail, Mohammed Buba, Jama’atu Wal-Jihad, Ansarul Sudan (ANSARU), Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Yan Group, Yan Group NLBDG, Adamu Hassan, Hassan Mohammed, Usman Abubakar, Kubara Salawu, Rabiu Suleiman, Simon Njoku, Godstime Iyare, Francis Mmadubuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo, Chiwendu Owoh, Ginika Orji, Awo Uchechukwu, Mercy Ali, Ohagwu Juliana, Eze Okpoto, Nwaobi Chimezie, and Ogumu Kewe.

    The entities listed include West and East Africa General Trading Co. Ltd, Settings Bureau De Change Ltd, G. Side General Enterprises, Desert Exchange Ventures Limited, Eagle Square General Trading Co. Ltd, Alfa Exchange BDC, Alin Yar Yaya General Enterprises, K. Are Nigeria Limited, Suhailah Bashir General Enterprises, Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises, Seficuvi Global Company, and Lakurawa Sect.

    In recent years, Nigeria has periodically released sanctions lists under its national framework, often aligning with resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

    These measures usually include asset freezes and travel restrictions designed to disrupt financial networks linked to terrorism.

    The sanctions regime was established under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 to enforce UN-directed financial penalties targeting terrorism financing and the proliferation of weapons.

    The latest development comes amid heightened terrorist activities in the North-East and renewed federal government efforts to prosecute high-profile suspects.

    Meanwhile, no fewer than 386 terrorists have been convicted in ongoing trials involving suspects linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

    In December 2025, SaharaReporters uncovered a complex network of 23 individuals, 20 Nigerians and three foreign nationals, suspected of financing and facilitating terrorism linked to Boko Haram, naming figures such as Alhaji Saidu Ahmed, Usaini Adamu, Muhammad Sani Adam, Abubakar Adamu Yellow, Murtala Abdullahi Jega, Sadiq Garba Abubakar, Hussaini Adamu, Mustapha Ibrahim Yakubu, Ali Abdullahi Yusuf, Nasiru Shuaibu, Yusuf Ghazali, Mansur Muhammad Usman, Yazid Usman Muhammad, Alhaji Musa Emma, Modu Sulum, Adamu Aliyu Kanoma, Habibu Muhammad Usama, Nurudeen Gani Aliyu, Ladan Ibrahim, alongside international suspects Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa, Paul Nkwaya, and Aboubacar Hima.

    The investigation traced extensive financial flows, business links, and personal associations connecting the suspects to convicted terrorism financiers, with transactions running into tens of billions of naira across hundreds of bank accounts. Many were linked to arms procurement, cross-border fund transfers, and money laundering operations, with some repeatedly cited in UAE court judgments.

    Despite being arrested in 2021, the Nigerian suspects were reportedly released under questionable circumstances. 

    Overall, the findings point to a highly coordinated domestic and international financing network, deeply embedded in commercial activities and spanning multiple jurisdictions, raising serious concerns about enforcement gaps and the continued funding of terrorist operations.

    Source: SaharaReporters

  • Ondo South 2027: Jumoke Akindele Declares Senatorial Ambition, Pushes Gender Inclusion Agenda

    Ondo South 2027: Jumoke Akindele Declares Senatorial Ambition, Pushes Gender Inclusion Agenda

    A former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele, has formally declared her intention to contest for the Ondo South Senatorial seat ahead of the next electoral cycle, positioning herself as a successor to the incumbent lawmaker, Jimoh Ibrahim. Ibrahim is widely speculated to be in line for a potential diplomatic role as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a development that could open up the senatorial contest in the district.
    In a strongly worded declaration, Akindele acknowledged the presence of formidable contenders but emphasized that her aspiration is rooted in both competence and a broader socio-political imperative. She described her bid as part of a necessary shift toward gender inclusion, noting that Ondo State remains the only state in Nigeria’s South-West region yet to produce a female senator since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999. According to her, this historical gap underscores a structural imbalance that must now be corrected.
    The former Speaker further highlighted her legislative credentials, recalling her rise to leadership within the state assembly as a first-term lawmaker. She argued that her experience in parliamentary leadership, combined with her political maturity, places her in a strong position to represent Ondo South at the National Assembly of Nigeria. She also referenced the limited representation of women from the state at the federal level, citing Hon. Febi Adeyemi as a rare example from the House of Representatives.
    Akindele used the opportunity to appeal directly to the state governor, urging him to support female aspirants as part of a broader legacy of inclusive governance. She described women as the “backbone of democracy,” citing their long-standing role in political mobilization and grassroots support. In her words, the moment represents a defining opportunity for the administration to address gender imbalance and earn enduring recognition from women across the state.
    Framing the contest ahead as a potential “David and Goliath” battle, Akindele expressed confidence in eventual victory, signaling readiness for what may become a highly competitive race in Ondo South. Political observers note that her declaration adds a significant dimension to the emerging contest, particularly around gender representation and intra-party dynamics.
    With political alignments gradually taking shape, the Ondo South senatorial race is expected to attract heightened attention in the coming months, as stakeholders weigh continuity, competence, and calls for inclusivity in determining the district’s next representative.
  • Tinubu Approves ₦3.3tn Plan To Clear Power Sector Debts, Boost Electricity Supply

    Tinubu Approves ₦3.3tn Plan To Clear Power Sector Debts, Boost Electricity Supply

    President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦3.3 trillion payment plan aimed at clearing long-standing debts in Nigeria’s power sector, in what the Federal Government described as a major step towards restoring liquidity, improving electricity generation and delivering more reliable power supply to homes and businesses across the country.
    The approval, announced in a State House statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, is under the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme, an intervention designed to resolve legacy liabilities that have weighed down the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) for over a decade.
    According to the Presidency, the debts accumulated between February 2015 and March 2025. After a final verification and review process, the Federal Government and stakeholders agreed on ₦3.3 trillion as a full and final settlement figure, which officials said would provide a fair, transparent and credible closure to the protracted debt overhang.
    The government said implementation has already commenced, with 15 power plants signing settlement agreements worth ₦2.3 trillion. It added that ₦501 billion has already been raised to support the first phase of payments, while ₦223 billion has so far been disbursed, with additional payments now being processed.
    Industry observers say the move is expected to strengthen liquidity across the power value chain, especially for generation companies and gas suppliers whose operations have long been hampered by mounting receivables and delayed payments.
    Speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, said the intervention goes beyond debt repayment and is fundamentally about rebuilding confidence in the electricity market.
    She said the programme is meant to ensure that gas suppliers are paid, power plants remain operational and the overall electricity system begins to function more reliably, while also complementing other reforms such as improved metering and service-based tariffs tied to quality of supply.
    According to her, the Federal Government is also prioritising power delivery to businesses, industries and small enterprises, stressing that stable electricity is critical to job creation, productivity and economic growth.
    The latest approval marks a continuation of a broader power sector rescue strategy already set in motion by the Tinubu administration. In October 2025, the Federal Government announced a ₦4 trillion debt reduction framework for the sector, while in December 2025 and January 2026, it moved ahead with bond issuances through Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) to finance the first phase of settlements. Official records show the inaugural ₦501 billion bond under the programme was fully subscribed, reflecting strong investor appetite for the reform effort.
    The Presidency believes that by settling the legacy debts, generation output will become more stable, investor confidence will improve and the sector will be better positioned to attract fresh capital for expansion and service delivery.
    President Tinubu, according to the statement, also commended all stakeholders involved in resolving the long-standing issues and confirmed that the next phase of the intervention, known as Series II, will commence this quarter.
    Analysts say while the debt settlement could ease one of the sector’s most stubborn structural bottlenecks, the ultimate impact on ordinary Nigerians will depend on whether the liquidity injection translates into stronger generation, better transmission stability, improved distribution performance and accelerated metering nationwide.
    For many electricity consumers, the test will be simple: whether the latest intervention finally leads to fewer blackouts and more reliable power after years of chronic supply disruptions.
  • Olubadan Dares Makinde, Leaves Ibadan For Lagos As Coronation Boycott Deepens Crisis

    Olubadan Dares Makinde, Leaves Ibadan For Lagos As Coronation Boycott Deepens Crisis

    A major constitutional and traditional crisis is unfolding in Oyo State as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has reportedly taken a firm and defiant position against the state government, directing a boycott of the coronation ceremony of three prominent Ibadan High Chiefs.
    In a dramatic twist, credible palace sources confirm that the monarch has also left Ibadan for Lagos, a move widely interpreted as a strong signal of his resolve amid the escalating standoff.
    Sources indicate that the Olubadan is prepared for a direct confrontation with the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, signaling his intention to stay away from the ceremony and urging the affected chiefs to do the same — a development that has significantly heightened tension within both the traditional institution and the political space.
    At the centre of the crisis are three senior chiefs — High Chief Kola Babalola (Ekaarun Olubadan), High Chief Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin (Ekerin Balogun), and High Chief (Senator) Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli (Ekaarun Balogun) — who are reportedly set to boycott the coronation scheduled for Friday, April 3, 2026, in defiance of the Oyo State Government’s directive.
    Insiders reveal that the boycott is partly aimed at shielding Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who is said to be at the centre of the controversy surrounding the coronation and its political undertones.
    More revealing, a highly placed source disclosed that the Olubadan, himself a former governor, is fully aware of the powers vested in an Executive Governor and believes that the current political configuration in the state could shift significantly in the near future.
    The development has effectively drawn a clear battle line between the Olubadan and Governor Makinde’s administration, raising concerns about a potential and unprecedented clash between traditional authority and state power.
    Observers warn that the standoff could severely strain relations between both institutions, with far-reaching implications for governance, political stability, and the delicate balance of authority in Oyo State.
    Analysts further caution that the growing overlap between politics and traditional leadership — particularly the perceived involvement of the Olubadan in political alignments — may heighten tensions and trigger wider instability if not carefully managed.
    As of press time, neither the Oyo State Government nor the Olubadan Palace has issued an official statement confirming or denying the development, further fueling speculation and anxiety across the state.
  • Ondo PDP Holds SEC Meeting, Dismisses Illegal Congress, Reaffirms Loyalty To Turaki-led NWC

    Ondo PDP Holds SEC Meeting, Dismisses Illegal Congress, Reaffirms Loyalty To Turaki-led NWC

    The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once again reaffirmed its unalloyed loyalty and total commitment to the Barr. Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), while dismissing in strong terms the purported “new congress” being bandied about by a handful of misguided elements parading themselves outside the constitutional structure of the Party.
    This position was made clear at the meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Party held on Thursday at the Party’s State Secretariat, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
    In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Communications of the Ondo State PDP, Wándé T. Àjàyí, the State Chairman, Barr. Victor Modupe Aisida, made it abundantly clear that the so-called congress being promoted by some desperate individuals remains a nullity, a charade, and a political exercise in futility.
    According to the State Chairman, the Peoples Democratic Party is a party guided by rules, due process, and constitutional order, and no valid congress can be conjured out of illegality, confusion, or personal ambition.
    Barr. Aisida noted that those behind the sham exercise have once again demonstrated a poor understanding of the Party’s constitution, processes, and internal democratic mechanisms, stressing that you cannot build something on nothing.
    He further emphasized that no legitimate State Congress can stand where there have been no valid Ward and Local Government Congresses, and no authentic delegate structure recognized by the lawful leadership of the Party.
    The SEC meeting was attended by all Local Government Chairmen of the Party, members of the State Executive Council, and major stakeholders across the State, in a clear demonstration of the unity, strength, and legitimacy of the Ondo State PDP under the recognized Party leadership.
    Among leaders present at the meeting were Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and former National Vice Chairman (South West), former State Chairman, Engr. Clement Faboyede, as well as Chief Tunde Akindehin and other prominent stakeholders of the Party.
    Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Eddy Olafeso and Engr. Clement Faboyede reassured members that the PDP remains intact, united, and fully prepared for the future, stressing that the Party will be on the ballot and duly elected candidates will emerge under its platform.
    Dr. Olafeso urged all Party faithful across the State to actively key into the ongoing PDP membership registration exercise, describing it as a vital step toward strengthening the Party’s base and repositioning it for the tasks ahead.
    The leaders also encouraged all aspirants to remain steadfast and continue their grassroots consultations and mobilization, expressing confidence that the PDP remains the most viable political platform in Ondo State and that victory is not in doubt.
    Dr. Olafeso further appreciated the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for his steadfast leadership, courage, and consistency in providing direction for the Party at a critical time.
    The Ondo State PDP therefore urges its members, supporters, and the general public to disregard the noise and distractions being orchestrated by those who have chosen the path of illegality and confusion.
    The Party remains united, focused, and fully aligned with the recognized national leadership, and will not be distracted by the antics of political merchants seeking relevance through illegitimate means.
  • Tinubu Pledges All Salaries To Support Wounded Military Personnel, Fallen Heroes’ Families As Birthday Gift

    Tinubu Pledges All Salaries To Support Wounded Military Personnel, Fallen Heroes’ Families As Birthday Gift

     President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday marked his 74th birthday with a significant gesture of solidarity and support for Nigeria’s Armed Forces, announcing the establishment of a special fund for serving military personnel wounded in the line of duty, as well as the families of fallen heroes.
    In a personally signed statement, the President disclosed that he had directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to establish a dedicated account for the initiative, which is aimed at complementing existing insurance and welfare schemes for officers and men of the Armed Forces.
    As a personal demonstration of commitment, Tinubu said all his salaries since assuming office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces would be paid into the special account as seed funding.
    The President said the fund would provide direct support for military personnel who have suffered life-altering injuries in active service, particularly those who have lost limbs, as well as widows, widowers, and children of officers and soldiers who paid the supreme price in defence of the nation.
    “Today, I have directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to establish a special account for a fund dedicated to those who serve, those wounded in the line of duty, and the families of those who have paid the ultimate price,” Tinubu stated.
    “As a personal commitment, all my salaries since assuming office will be paid into this account as seed funding, irrespective of existing insurance and welfare schemes for members of our armed forces,” he added.
    The President used the occasion of his birthday to salute what he described as the valiant men and women of the Armed Forces, stressing that the country owes a permanent debt of gratitude to those who daily put themselves in harm’s way to safeguard Nigeria’s peace, unity, and territorial integrity.
    He said the initiative must not be seen as an act of charity, but as a solemn obligation owed by the nation to those who bear the burden of its defence.
    “This is not charity. It is duty. And we will fulfil it,” the President declared.
    Tinubu also called on state governors, members of the National Assembly, the private sector, friends of the administration, and other patriotic Nigerians to support the initiative once details of the account are formally unveiled.
    “I call on our Governors, members of the National Assembly, the private sector, my friends and all well-wishers to support this initiative. Details of the account will be made available in due course,” he said.
    The President further underscored the need for the country to continually honour the sacrifices of military personnel and the burdens borne by their families, especially those who have lost breadwinners or continue to live with the physical and emotional scars of war and internal security operations.
    “We must never forget those who stand in harm’s way for our peace, nor the sacrifices borne by their families,” Tinubu said.
    The announcement is expected to resonate widely across the country and may open a fresh chapter in efforts to strengthen post-service welfare, rehabilitation, and long-term support for wounded servicemen and women, as well as the dependants of those who died in active service.
    President Tinubu’s gesture comes at a time when calls have continued to grow for more robust support structures for military personnel and their families amid persistent security operations in different parts of the country.
  • PDP Moves To Stop Fresh Convention, Seeks Supreme Court Stay On Appeal Court Judgment

    PDP Moves To Stop Fresh Convention, Seeks Supreme Court Stay On Appeal Court Judgment

    The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a fresh turn on Friday as the party, alongside its National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), approached the Supreme Court seeking to halt moves toward a fresh national convention scheduled for March 29 and 30 in Abuja. 
    In a motion filed before the apex court, the PDP and its key organs asked for a stay of execution of the March 9, 2026 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which affirmed an earlier Federal High Court ruling nullifying the party’s 2025 national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State. 
    The application, brought in Appeal No. SC/CV/166/2026, is seeking an order restraining the respondents and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from giving effect to the appellate court judgment pending the hearing and determination of the substantive appeal. 
    The party also urged the Supreme Court to stop all steps toward the planned Abuja convention, warning that if the exercise is allowed to proceed, it could render the pending appeal nugatory and create a fait accompli. 
    Among those listed as respondents in the suit are Austin Nwachukwu, Amah Abraham Nnanna, Turnah Alabh George, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, Emmanuel Ogidi, and INEC. 
    The fresh legal move follows the March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld the decision of the Federal High Court barring INEC from recognising the outcome of the PDP’s November 15 and 16, 2025 national convention in Ibadan. The convention had produced a factional leadership with Taminu Turaki, SAN, emerging as National Chairman. The appellate court held that the party failed to meet statutory requirements before conducting the convention, including valid notice to INEC and compliance with constitutional procedures.
    Following the appellate court ruling, the faction opposed to the Ibadan convention insisted that the planned March 29 and 30 national convention in Abuja would proceed as scheduled. A spokesperson of the group, Haruna Mohammed, had said the party had already conducted ward and local government congresses in compliance with the lower court judgment and would continue with arrangements for the convention.
    However, the PDP applicants, in the motion now before the Supreme Court, argued that both the trial court and the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, insisting that the apex court must preserve the subject matter of the dispute pending the determination of the appeal. 
    The party is specifically asking the Supreme Court for an order staying execution of the appellate judgment, or in the alternative, an injunction restraining INEC from recognising or acting on the judgment as it affects the Ibadan convention. It is also seeking an order stopping the respondents from organising, conducting, recognising or participating in any fresh PDP national convention until the appeal is heard and determined. 
    The latest development is expected to deepen the battle for control of the PDP’s national structure, with the outcome of the Supreme Court proceedings likely to shape the future of the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
  • NANS Presidency Aspirant Pays Pupils’ Fees, Donates Uniforms In Akure On Birthday

    NANS Presidency Aspirant Pays Pupils’ Fees, Donates Uniforms In Akure On Birthday
    A student leader and aspirant for the office of President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, popularly known as BABTEE, has marked his birthday with an education support initiative for primary school pupils in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
    As part of the outreach, the student activist paid the school fees of selected pupils in a number of primary schools and also provided them with new school uniforms, sandals and school bags.
    Akinteye, in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, said the gesture was inspired by his desire to give back to society and support the growth of basic education.
    Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, he said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” adding that he considered it appropriate to use the occasion of his birthday to invest in the future of children through education.
    According to him, education remains the foundation upon which nations rise and thrive, stressing that every child deserves a solid start in life through access to quality primary education.
    He noted that Ondo State, which he described as the cradle of his student leadership journey, holds a special place in his heart, hence his decision to celebrate the occasion in Akure.
    The NANS presidency hopeful said his choice to carry out the intervention in the state capital was also in line with his commitment to educational development as he prepares for what he described as the apex and distinguished office of NANS President.
    Afeez explained that the initiative focused on easing the burden on parents while encouraging pupils to remain committed to their studies.
    He said primary education is the cornerstone of opportunity and urged stakeholders at all levels to invest more in the sector, noting that education sharpens minds, shapes destinies and helps build a society founded on strong values.
    He expressed gratitude to God for the grace to impact lives, describing the outreach as the beginning of a broader mission to make meaningful and lasting contributions to society.
    The schools that benefited from the gesture include St. Francis Primary School, Akure; St. Martin’s RCM Primary School, Akure; Ebenezer A/C Primary School, Akure; St. Stephen’s Anglican Primary School, Ijomu, Akure; and Muslim Primary School, Akure.
    Afeez, who styles himself as “The Harbinger of The Blessed Era,” said the intervention marks the beginning of what he hopes will become a sustained commitment to supporting education and impacting lives across communities.
    He added that nothing would discourage him from pursuing causes that create lasting value and leave what he described as “an impact for eternity.”
  • Baruwa Camp Alleges Security Agencies Defied Court To Restore MC Oluomo

    Baruwa Camp Alleges Security Agencies Defied Court To Restore MC Oluomo

    The leadership crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) took a fresh twist on Wednesday as the camp of Comrade Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa accused security agencies of defying valid court judgments by restoring Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, to the union’s national secretariat in Abuja.
    At a press briefing in the Federal Capital Territory, counsel to Baruwa, Tolu Babaleye Esq., alleged that the Nigeria Police Force, with the support of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security formations, acted in open disregard of subsisting court rulings affirming Baruwa as the authentic National President of the union.
    The lawyers described the development as a grave assault on the judiciary, the rule of law and democratic order, insisting that what began as an internal union dispute has now degenerated into a constitutional crisis.
    According to Babaleye, Baruwa emerged as the duly elected and nationally recognised leader of the NURTW through a lawful electoral process and subsequently secured landmark victories at both the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal.
    He said the judgments clearly affirmed Baruwa’s leadership and left no room for ambiguity, stressing that they were binding judicial pronouncements and not mere recommendations.
    Public reports had earlier confirmed that the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in November 2024, upheld the earlier decision of the National Industrial Court recognising Baruwa as the legitimate NURTW President and nullifying the emergence of MC Oluomo as national leader of the union. The appellate court was also reported to have dismissed the appeal challenging Baruwa’s leadership and awarded costs against the appellants.
    Despite the court victories, Baruwa’s legal team alleged that repeated efforts to compel the enforcement of the judgments were frustrated by state authorities.
    Babaleye told journalists that formal letters were written to the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies demanding compliance with the court orders, but the requests were allegedly ignored.
    He added that the matter was later escalated to the Honourable Minister of Labour and the Attorney General of the Federation, with appeals for the executive to give effect to the judgments. While the Minister of Labour reportedly convened the parties, the Baruwa camp claimed the issue was eventually referred for legal advice, a step it described as a delay tactic that emboldened those allegedly acting in defiance of the courts.
    According to the legal team, after waiting for over two and a half years without enforcement of the judgments, Baruwa on Monday, March 23, 2026, moved into the NURTW national office in Abuja and peacefully assumed control of the secretariat.
    They maintained that there was no violence, no resistance and no breach of peace, insisting that the move was a lawful assertion of rights by a man armed with valid and subsisting judgments.
    However, the lawyers alleged that the police, which had failed to act on the judgments for months, suddenly surfaced, not to remove the alleged illegal occupants of the office, but to arrest Baruwa himself.
    Babaleye said Baruwa was subsequently charged with public disturbance, a move he described as baseless and legally indefensible.
    The legal team further alleged that the situation escalated on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, when security operatives removed Baruwa from the office and later escorted MC Oluomo into the NURTW national secretariat under heavy security protection.
    Describing the development as the ultimate indignity, Babaleye argued that MC Oluomo was neither a contestant in the election that produced Baruwa nor a party to the litigation that culminated in the appellate court judgment.
    He said the action amounted to a coordinated, military style operation designed to undermine the judiciary and perpetuate an illegal occupation of the union’s national headquarters.
    Babaleye told reporters that the tragedy deepened when security agencies led by the police and supported by the Army, Civil Defence and others marched Ayinde Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, into the NURTW national office.
    He insisted that the development was not merely contempt by private individuals, but a direct institutional desecration of the judicial process.
    According to him, when security agencies begin to choose which court orders to obey and which to ignore, the country ceases to operate under the rule of law and slips into the rule of force.
    The Baruwa camp also challenged the Federal Government to act decisively, saying the latest events amount to a major test of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s oft stated commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
    Babaleye called on the President to immediately direct the Inspector General of Police to restore Baruwa to office, arrest those allegedly occupying the secretariat unlawfully, and order a full scale investigation into the role played by the police, military and other agencies in the March 24 operation.
    He also urged the President to publicly demonstrate through concrete action that no individual, regardless of political influence or connection, is above the Constitution.
    The lawyers further called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Judicial Council (NJC), civil society groups and all defenders of democracy to speak out against what they termed a dangerous descent into lawlessness.
    As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the NSCDC, the Federal Ministry of Labour, or the office of the Attorney General of the Federation on the allegations.
    Likewise, there was no immediate reaction from MC Oluomo or his associates on the claims made by Baruwa’s camp.
    The latest development marks yet another dramatic chapter in the protracted NURTW leadership tussle, which has been characterised by rival claims, litigation and political controversy.
    In March 2024, the National Industrial Court affirmed Baruwa as NURTW President and disbanded the caretaker structure challenging his authority, before the Court of Appeal in November 2024 upheld that decision.
    With the fresh allegations of state backed interference now in the open, the Baruwa camp says it will pursue all legal and constitutional avenues to reclaim the union’s national secretariat and ensure full compliance with the judgments already delivered in its favour.
  • Court Returns Sowore’s Passport After Controversial Twist In Cybercrime Suit

    Court Returns Sowore’s Passport After Controversial Twist In Cybercrime Suit
    Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Tuesday accused top officials of the Nigeria Police Force of orchestrating a fresh legal plot to revive a cybercrime case earlier struck out by the Federal High Court in Abuja, in what he described as a disturbing abuse of judicial process.
    Sowore made the allegation after proceedings before Justice Musa Liman, where he said a series of unusual legal maneuvers unfolded around the cybercrime charge initially filed against him by the police.
    According to Sowore, the case had earlier been struck out by the court. However, rather than allow the matter to rest, he alleged that a fresh ex parte motion was subsequently filed by police officials to relist the same case for trial.
    He specifically named the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ACP Bukola Kuti, and AIG Emmanuel Ade Aina, the officer in charge of the Police Legal Directorate, as those behind what he termed an “astonishing” attempt to reopen the matter.
    Describing the day’s events as “revealing and deeply troubling,” Sowore alleged that despite Egbetokun’s removal from office, the former police chief still appeared to be exercising influence within the police hierarchy.
    His legal team, led by Barrister Marshal D. F. Abubakar and Barrister Rosemary Hamza of Adeyanju Deji’s chambers, was said to have immediately applied for the Certified True Copy of the ruling and final order striking out the case. However, Sowore claimed court officials delayed the process, citing the public holiday.
    At the centre of the dispute was also the release of Sowore’s international passport and the land documentation of his surety, both of which had been deposited as part of the bail conditions imposed on him since January 2025.
    Sowore said repeated applications for the release of the passport were resisted, adding that Justice Liman at one point allegedly suggested that his wife and family members would need to swear affidavits before the travel document could be returned.
    He further alleged that the case itself had suffered several deliberate adjournments over the months, often on the grounds of the judge’s conferences and other official engagements.
    According to him, recent events now cast those repeated delays in a different light.
    He disclosed that last week, the police legal directorate filed what he described as an unusual ex parte motion to relist the struck-out case. On Tuesday, he said the court registrar informed his lawyers that Justice Liman would not formally sign the ruling and order striking out the matter until the police appeared to move their application to relist the case and also withdraw it in open court.
    In what he described as a further contradiction, Sowore said the police later filed yet another ex parte application seeking to withdraw their earlier motion to relist the matter.
    While he and his lawyers waited for proceedings to begin, Sowore said they were suddenly informed that the case was not listed for hearing, even though, according to him, the pending application to relist ought not to have affected their request to obtain the ruling and order already delivered.
    During the period of waiting, Sowore said he addressed journalists at the court premises on what he called “a range of national issues.”
    He also recounted a dramatic moment during the media interaction, alleging that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria identified as Musbau, SAN, abruptly interrupted the session and attempted to intimidate both him and journalists at the court complex, asking them to vacate the courtroom area.
    Sowore said he thereafter left the court premises for another engagement at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
    However, upon concluding that meeting, he said his lawyers informed him that Justice Liman had gone ahead to relist the matter, allowed a police lawyer to move the application, and then, in what he described as an ironic turn, brought the entire case to an end by granting an ex parte order permitting the police to withdraw it.
    He maintained that the process was irregular and contradictory, arguing that a matter already struck out should not have been relisted only to be withdrawn moments later.
    Despite the controversy, Sowore confirmed that his international passport was eventually released to his lawyer and returned to him, bringing to a close what he described as a prolonged and unjustified seizure.
    As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Nigeria Police Force, the court, or the officers named by Sowore over the allegations surrounding the attempted relisting of the case, the withdrawal application, and the eventual release of his travel documents.
    The development marks yet another chapter in Sowore’s long-running legal and political confrontations with state authorities, with the activist insisting that the latest events further expose what he sees as a sustained misuse of the justice system against dissenting voices.

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