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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has argued that being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) does not automatically disqualify a person from participating in political campaigns or canvassing votes.

Wike made the assertion on Wednesday, during a media parley in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while defending the inclusion of individuals facing allegations or investigations in political campaign structures.

His comments followed controversy over the inclusion of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, in the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Edu was listed as Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council. She was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety and was subsequently investigated by the EFCC.

Wike questioned the basis for excluding a person from campaigning simply because the individual was being investigated, particularly where no conviction had been established.

“You were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case to be in a campaign council. And I was just watching the lady. The lady doesn’t even know what to say,” Wike said.

He added: “Now, somebody cannot be in a campaign to canvass for votes for a particular person, but somebody who has an EFCC case can contest an election and win an election?”

The minister said there had been instances in which individuals facing criminal allegations or court cases contested elections and emerged victorious.

“This person had an EFCC case in court, charged to court. He contested an election and became a governor,” he said, without identifying the individual.

Wike also took his argument further, saying even a person serving a prison sentence could express political support for a candidate and canvass votes through others.

“Listen. Even a prisoner… maybe they have somebody in prison. I go and visit the person. The person can tell me, ‘My brother, I want you to support so-and-so candidate.’ A prisoner has canvassed for vote,” he said.

The minister also referred to an unnamed individual allegedly linked to a coup plot, questioning the criticism generated when such a person was said to have supported a political candidate.

“I was watching, when Channels, when Sunrise, who came up to say, ‘Ah, how can somebody who’s being looked for as a coup plotter is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so government?’ Somebody EFCC is looking for is now canvassing for votes for so-and-so person,” Wike said.

He maintained that an ongoing investigation should not, by itself, prevent a political party or candidate from accepting an individual’s support during an election campaign.

“But a party, or a candidate cannot, simply because EFCC is investigating the person, cannot be a member of the campaign council to campaign for votes,” he said.

Edu has not been publicly declared guilty of any offence arising from the EFCC investigation.

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Ride-hailing company, Uber, has shut down its operations in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company, which came into Nigeria in 2014, said its exit is effective from September 2, 2026.

After a thorough review, we have taken the difficult decision to wind down operations in Nigeria, effective September 2, 2026,”

“We are writing to share some difficult news. After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026.”

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life connecting you with independent transportation providers.

Whether it was a morning commute, a ride to see loved ones, or exploring the city, thank you for trusting the platform to connect you to a driver to get you there safely. We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

Uber said said its plan is to support drivers, riders and local team members through the transition

(Daily Trust)

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A United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has claimed that an individual it described as being linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu offered $3 million to persuade the firm to halt its activities concerning allegations about the Nigerian president’s past.

The firm made the claim in a statement published on its verified X account on Wednesday, alleging that the purported offer was accompanied by an invitation to a confidential meeting in London.

Von Batten-Montague-York said its leader, Dr Von Batten, rejected the proposal and retained copies of the communications relating to the alleged offer.

The firm did not identify the individual it claimed made the offer, nor did it provide publicly verifiable evidence establishing that the person was acting on behalf of President Tinubu.

Firm alleges $3m inducement

According to the statement, the alleged approach came from what the firm described as a “highly placed individual” who it said it had been told was connected to the President.

The firm alleged that the purpose of the proposed payment was to persuade Dr Von Batten to discontinue the organisation’s campaign concerning allegations it has previously raised about President Tinubu.

“A few days ago, Dr Von Batten received unsolicited offers of $3 million, along with an invitation to a confidential meeting in London, from a highly placed individual whom we have been informed is connected to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu,” the firm said.

It added that it viewed the alleged offer as an attempt to influence its activities.

“We believe these offers were an attempt to persuade Dr Von Batten to end our campaign concerning President Tinubu’s alleged heroin-trafficking records,” the statement said.

The firm said it rejected the alleged proposal, adding that it had preserved the communications surrounding the purported approach.

Firm says it investigated alleged link

Von Batten-Montague-York said it subsequently sought to establish the identity and political connections of the individual allegedly behind the approach.

It claimed that it contacted members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as part of its efforts to determine whether the individual had any relationship with President Tinubu.

The firm also alleged that negative publicity targeting Dr Von Batten emerged after the purported offer was rejected.

It did not, however, provide independent evidence in the statement to substantiate the alleged link between the individual and the President or to establish that the subsequent criticism was connected to the alleged offer.

Documents to be submitted to US authorities

The lobbying firm said it plans to submit what it described as the relevant communications and details of the alleged $3 million proposal to United States authorities.

It specifically mentioned the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The firm said the move would enable the appropriate authorities to independently examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged approach.

The organisation also directed its message at President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it had rejected the purported offer.

Allegation remains unverified

The claim comes against the backdrop of longstanding political and legal disputes surrounding allegations concerning President Tinubu’s past, including claims that have previously been raised in political campaigns and legal proceedings.

However, the latest allegation by Von Batten-Montague-York has not been independently verified.

The firm has not publicly identified the alleged intermediary or produced evidence confirming that the person was authorised to act for or on behalf of President Tinubu.

There was also no response from the Presidency, President Tinubu, the APC or any identified representative contained in the statement issued by the firm.