News
N3.5bn Accusation: Obi says Labour Party Will Hire Independent Auditor For Accounts
…N744.5m spent on litigation after 2023 general elections
By Gloria Ikibah
Amid the fresh crisis rocking the Labour Party over the sale of forms and fundraising activities for the 2023 General Elections, the Presidential Candidate of the party, H.E Peter Obi has said that an independent audit firm will audit the accounts of the party.
Obi stated this in Abuja on Thursday at a press briefing organised by the Obi/Baba-Ahmed Campaign Group to present the report of its fundraising during the 2023 General elections.
He stated that the allegations and counter allegations in the party must be thoroughly investigated and reconciled
He stated: ‘There has been all sorts of comments and allegations, like one of the people said about $150 million, let me categorically state it that all the funds received directly or indirectly from the diaspora is not up to 1 percent of the money mentioned, and this, some of it is changed and given to Aisha.
“We were actually going to go to the various people who supported us in diaspora to say thank you and tell them what was realised. And we are also going to put an information out there that whoever knows where funds were supposed to have been remitted to help us trace and get back. But know that people are claiming we receive 150 million dollars and I state here, we haven’t seen 1 percent and I stand here to dispute and prove that.
Responding to questions on the many allegations at the party level, the National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure been called by the party’s National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, to account for N3 5bn raised from sale of forms and fundraising activities before and during the General elections. Obi said the party will give a transparent account of funds realised during the campaign process.
“What we are doing today is distinct and completely separate from the party and the party fund. We are just dealing with Obi-Datti campaign funds and I ahve told everybody if what ever we received directly, indirectly will be accounted for transparently. For the party, I am a member of the party and they have chosen to say I am the leader.
“What we need to do in the party and I discussed it with the leadership, is that we must now appoint a reputable audit firm to audit and be able to deal with the accounting of the party. When I am involve in anywhere money is, it must be transparent.
“So there is the allegation and counter allegation now that must be thoroughly investigated and verified,and we will reconcile it and know exactly what we are doing. Within here is accounting for the campaign and I am using the opportunity also to appeal to the various support groups or individuals and parties that received some form of funding to support what we are doing, which we are very grateful to account to those they received it from. Because there are some people who supported some supported groups, there some people even abroad who collected money and said they are going to use it to work in the North and everything. We were not stringent that anything you collect must come to us but we want whatever is collected to be accounted for. That’s why we appeal to the public, if you think this happened here and everything,let us know”, Obi stated.
Briefing newsmen on the aftermath of the 2023 elections after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the then All Progressives Congress (INEC) candidate Bola Tinubu as the winner of the election.
Chairman of the Fundraising Team of the Campaign Organisation, Aisha Yesufu, said that the LP went to court as lawyers were hired to pursue legal cases from the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) all through the Supreme Court.
She disclosed that the campaign Organisation spent over N744,500,000 in litigation in courts over the 2023 presidential election.
The Chairman of the Fundraising Team of the Campaign Organisation, Aisha Yesufu, who disclosed this, also stated that the LP received donations totalling N595,976,994.00 from Nigerians.
“Accountability and transparency are very critical and important; that is why we asked people to donate so that we could come back to them to explain how their money was judiciously used.
“We thank everyone who donated in cash and kindness. From the donations from citizens, we received N595,976,994. This is the money we raised from the four accounts that we have talked about. We also received N8,000,00.00 from the candidate himself (Peter Obi),” she said.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has signed Development Agreements with Suburban Broadband Limited and Akida Hills Limited for the development of a recreational hub in the heart of Abuja.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike described Abuja as a fast-developing city, and a perfect location for recreation, but lamented that the pace of development had been slowed down by land speculators who held on to land without developing them.
The Minister, who stressed that, it was no longer business as usual for those “hoarding and speculating government land”, warned that “for those that have applied for land for development, they must have to develop the land within the next six months, and we will revoke it if it is not done. ”
Speaking at the brief ceremony in the FCT Minister’s conference room, the representative of Suburban Broadband Limited, Mr. Pankaj Khandelwal, said the Development Agreement marked an important landmark for their organization, and that the project was a significant investment which will bring about socioeconomic growth and create jobs in the FCT.
On his part, the representative of Akida Hills Limited, Mr Bamisile Olukayode, appreciated the courage of the FCT Minister in carrying out major developmental tasks in the FCT.
He described the task of developing the Jabi Lake as “exciting” and promised that the project will be comparable to Times Square in New York and the Dubai Fountain Water Show and would turn Abuja to a destination city.
He assured that the development will place Abuja among world class cities all over the globe, adding that the project will be completed before the end of the year.
Nyesom Wike (right) presenting Certificate of Occupancy to the Chairman of Akida Hills limited, Architect Bamisile Olukayode, during the signing of a Development of Agreement between the FCTA and Akida Hills limited for the development of a recreational in Abuja on Friday.
FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike (right) presenting a Certificate of Occupancy to the Managing Director of Suburban Broadband Limited, Mr Pankaj Khandelwal, during the signing of a Development Agreement between the FCTA and Suburban Broadband Limited for the development of a recreational hub in the FCC on Friday
General Counsel and Secretary, FCT Legal Secretariat, Barr Salman Dako, MD Suburban Broadband Limited, Pankaj Khandelwal and a Director at Suburban Broadband Limited, Barr Naseer Ahmed during the signing of development agreements between the FCTA and two International organizations for the development of a recreational hub in the FCC on Friday
President Bola Tinubu is set to embark on a one-day official visit to Kebbi State on Saturday, where he will inaugurate several projects executed by the state governor, Nasir Idris.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday.
During the visit, the President will also serve as the special guest of honour at the 61st edition of the 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, one of Africa’s most celebrated cultural events.
The festival is traditionally staged along the riverside of the historic Matan Fada and has received global recognition from UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
. .as NDLEA officers graduate from US-DEA training academy
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to global cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational organised crime.
Marwa who stated this in his address at the graduation ceremony of NDLEA officers at the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, USA on Friday, 13th February 2026, called for a reinforced global offensive against transnational organised crime, asserting that the evolving sophistication of criminal networks demands a corresponding surge in law enforcement collaboration.
The NDLEA boss described the ceremony as particularly significant, noting that the course was dedicated to SIU members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He paid glowing tribute to the fallen officers, describing them as heroes whose courage, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment to justice continue to inspire law enforcement personnel across nations.
Highlighting the course motto, “Different nations, shared duty, one fight,” Marwa said it aptly reflects the collective resolve of partner nations against transnational organised crime, stressing that criminal networks operate across borders and therefore demand a unified, coordinated, and intelligence-driven global response.
The intensive training programme brought together elite officers from Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, equipping them with advanced skills in diverse critical areas of their work.
Marwa expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired would significantly enhance the operational capacity of participating agencies to disrupt drug trafficking networks and dismantle organised criminal cartels across the region. He charged the graduating officers to apply the competencies gained with integrity, professionalism, courage, and a strong sense of responsibility upon returning to their respective countries.
He expressed the appreciation to the United States Department of Justice, the DEA leadership, and instructors for their steadfast partnership, mentorship, and continued investment in capacity building.
The NDLEA boss emphasised that the graduation ceremony marked not the end of training but the beginning of renewed responsibility for the officers to uphold the highest standards of service, protect vulnerable communities, and confront criminality wherever it threatens societal stability.
He expressed optimism that the partnership between NDLEA and the DEA would continue to grow stronger, yielding sustained successes in the shared fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.
FCTA Signs Agreements For Development of Jabi Lake As Recreation Hub(Photos)
President Tinubu set to embark on visit to Kebbi
Nigeria committed to global fight against illicit drugs, Marwa assures US, other partners
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