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Suspension of Edo LG Chairmen: Your action is null and void-Presidency tells Okpebholo

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The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has declared the suspension of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas, LGAS, in Edo State as illegal and unconstitutional.

The AGF, who spoke to journalists in Abuja yesterday, stressed that removing from office or suspending any elected LG official in the country is the prerogative of Councilors in the said LGA.

The Justice Minister said his position was based on the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court that granted autonomy to the 774 LGAs in the country.

“One thing that I know and can say without fear is that under the present dispensation, no Governor has the right to remove any local government chairman.

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“That much I know. If I did not know before, since July 11, 2024, I became aware that removal of any local government chairman or official would be the prerogative of that local government, through their legislative house,” the AGF stated.

However, he said his initial reluctance to react to the development was because he wanted to know the basis upon which the LGA officials in Edo state were reportedly suspended.

It will be recalled that the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the chairmen and vice chairmen of the LGAs for two months over their alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.

The Assembly directed the council leaders to hand over to the legislative leaders of their respective local governments.

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The action followed a letter from Governor Monday Okpebholo, who accused the council officials of insubordination, alleging that they failed to submit their financial reports from September 23, 2022, to date, as directed.

The LGA officials had since rejected their purported suspension, even as they vowed to remain in office till the expiration of their tenure in 2026. Meanwhile, speaking about ongoing reforms in the justice sector, the AGF said the development and adoption of the 2024-2028 National Policy on Justice would help to address the challenges militating against the effective administration of justice in Nigeria.

He said the federal government would in line with its determination to decongest the prisons, continue to train judges on the need to embrace the award of non-custodial sentences like community service, as provided for in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015 and Nigerian Correctional Service Act, NCSA, 2019.

“The ACJA, 2015, seeks to reform the administration of criminal justice through the speedy dispensation of justice, protection of human rights, accountability, and oversight between and amongst criminal justice institutions.

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“Since its enactment, the Ministry has been leading efforts to ensure its effective implementation to ensure citizens access justice and the protection of their rights.

“The Ministry, through various platforms, supported states to replicate the Act, through the adoption of their ACJL.

“Today, I am happy to report that the 36 states of the federation now have their states ACJLs, which, to a very large extent, replicates and further strengthen the provisions of the ACJA for effective implementation a the state level.

“The Justice Ministry is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Interior and Nigerian Correctional Service to conduct an audit of the Correctional Centres to ascertain the number of inmates, the condition of the correctional centres, the number and different categories of inmates in the correctional centres.

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“The first phase of this audit conducted in 9 states and the FCT, took place between 21st – 25th November, 2024, and it is hoped that when concluded, the outcome will assist the federal government in initiating and implementing appropriate policies and programmes that will enhance effective management of the correctional service.

“While these achievements are commendable, we must remain focused on addressing existing challenges,” the AGF stated.

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PFIPC scandal: ‘I borrowed N400 million to secure the appointment’ – Adeyemi Adeniyi

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The self-acclaimed Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, Adeyemi Adeniyi, says he borrowed the N400 million to secured the job at the presidency.

Adeniyi made this revelation on Monday during zoom interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television.

He said his creditors have reported him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He described the way some actors in government taking the matter as ‘unfortunate and embarrassing’, asking how only him could manoeuvre the entire Federal Government system.

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“I borrowed this money, the N400 million, to pay for this appointment. In fact, those that I borrowed the money from have reported me to the EFCC to refund it,” he said.

When asked to react to the report that there is a United States lobbying firm helping him to seek an asylum, Adeniyi said, “I read it the way you read it.”

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May 18 primaries has come to a close, I appeal to all my people to support all APC candidates -Ize-Iyamu

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Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has beckoned on all his loyalists to support All Progressives Congress APC candidates after the party formally endorsed all Edo State candidates.

This was contained in a statement he personally signed encouraging his loyalists in Edo South to throw their weights behind all APC candidates.

Hear him:

“Following wide-ranging consultations with our leaders, party members, supporters, women, youths, and well-wishers across Edo South, Nigeria, and the diaspora, I address you today(Monday ) with profound gratitude, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the unity and progress of our great party.

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“The APC Edo South Senatorial Primary held on May 18, 2026 has come to a close. Our party has completed its democratic process, and a candidate has emerged. I accept the decision of our party in good faith and appeal to all our members, followers and friends to do same.

“The All Progressives Congress is greater than any individual ambition. It is a platform built on service, sacrifice, discipline, and our shared commitment to a better future for our people. Political contests may test our preferences, but they must never diminish our common purpose.

To every supporter, coordinator, volunteer, grassroots mobiliser, and everyone who stood with us throughout this journey, I offer my heartfelt appreciation. Your loyalty, sacrifices, encouragement, and prayers have been a constant source of strength. I remain deeply grateful for your confidence and steadfast support.

I wish to specially thank our brothers and sisters in the diaspora across party lines for the overwhelming support they gave my senatorial bid and assure them of my continous commitment to the development and progress of our district. I urge every one of you to remain peaceful, reject division, and continue to uphold the values that have always defined our people.

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Now is the time to reconcile, close ranks, and focus on the greater task before us. Our collective responsibility to serve the people of Edo South is far greater than any individual aspiration. As we move forward, I remain committed to working with our leaders, stakeholders, and party faithfuls to strengthen the APC, secure victory in the general election, and advance the development and well-being of Edo South Senatorial District.

The contest is behind us. The future is before us. Let us move forward with one resolve, and one commitment- to build a stronger APC and a more prosperous Edo South.

Thank you for your prayers, your loyalty, and your unwavering support throughout this journey.
History will not remember the contest we fought; it will remember the future we built together. Let us unite. Let us serve. Let us win for the APC, for Edo South and for the people of Edo State.

God bless the All Progressives Congress. God bless Edo South Senatorial District. God bless Edo State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Oba gha to kpere, ise

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Senate investigates N34tn Duty Waivers, Threatens Sanctions for Defaulting Agencies

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The Senate Committee on Finance has opened a fresh scrutiny of the Federal Government’s import duty waiver regime after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) disclosed that the value of Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDECs) issued since March 2020 rose to about ₦34 trillion by 2025.

The committee also threatened sanctions against the heads of several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, for failing to appear before its investigative hearing on revenue remittances.

Appearing before the committee on Monday, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the agency’s revenue performance had been significantly influenced by government fiscal policies, particularly import duty exemptions granted to strategic sectors.

He explained that about 60 per cent of the ₦34 trillion worth of duty waivers covered military hardware imported to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, while the remaining exemptions applied to imports of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, medical equipment, industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs and food items under government intervention programmes.

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Adeniyi maintained that duty waivers should not be assessed solely on the basis of revenue forgone, arguing that they were intended to promote broader economic and social objectives, including industrial growth, improved healthcare delivery and national security.

He, however, recommended stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure beneficiaries of the incentives deliver the expected outcomes through increased production, lower prices and wider economic benefits.

The Customs boss also told lawmakers that the Service had generated about ₦4.5 trillion as of June 30, 2026, against an annual revenue target of ₦11.04 trillion.

However, the hearing exposed disagreements over Customs’ financial obligations after the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) alleged that the agency had an outstanding operating surplus liability of about ₦8.9 billion based on its 2019 audited accounts.

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Customs officials rejected the claim, insisting that the figures required reconciliation.

The committee also turned its attention to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) after the Fiscal Responsibility Commission alleged that the agency had failed to remit about ₦13.9 billion in operating surplus between 2023 and 2025.

Responding, the Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, acknowledged the outstanding liability but said the Commission had commenced gradual settlement of the amount.

To establish the actual figure, Chairman of the committee, Senator Sani Musa, directed the CAC, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and the committee’s secretariat to reconcile their records and submit a comprehensive report within two weeks.

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The committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of several invited agencies from the investigative hearing.

Senator Musa warned that the heads of the NCAA, SMEDAN, ITF, FMC Jabi and other defaulting agencies must appear at the next sitting or face sanctions under the Senate Standing Rules.

He stressed that agencies responsible for managing public resources have a constitutional obligation to account for revenues generated on behalf of the Federal Government and comply with legislative oversight.

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