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Inside details of vote-buying, low turnout, accessibility for PWDs voters in Anambra elections

Harrison EDEH  and  Mustapha USMAN
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Inside details of vote-buying, low turnout, accessibility for PWDs voters in Anambra elections

THE just-concluded governorship election in Anambra State was outwardly peaceful, but findings exposed worrying trends of vote-buying, systemic voter inducement and extremely low participation rates. Voter inducements cut across the major party lines of the All Progressive Congress (APC), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party.

On Sunday, November 9, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Charles Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as the winner of the 2025 Anambra governorship election.

Soludo secured 422,664 votes, defeating his closest rival, Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 99,445 votes.

Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes, while John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) scored 8,208 votes.

The Returning Officer, Edobar Omorogie, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), declared Soludo duly elected after confirming that he met the constitutional requirements of securing a majority of votes and geographical spread across the state’s 21 local government areas.

Despite the peaceful collation and declaration, opposition parties have rejected the results, alleging widespread voter inducement and irregularities that, according to them, undermined the integrity of the process.

Although the law allows cancellation of results where votes cast exceed accredited voters, it remains legally ambiguous whether detected vote‑buying automatically triggers cancellation. This creates a grey area that undermines effective enforcement.

Governor Soludo criticised for announcing cash rewards for voters at a campaign rally

The ICIR reports that during the campaign period, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), came under fire after he pledged material rewards tied to ward-level performance.

Governor Charles Soludo cheers the crowd after voting at PU 002, Ofiyi ward 13 Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Governor Charles Soludo cheers the crowd after voting at PU 002, Ofiyi ward 13 Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

At one of his rallies, in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area, Soludo said, “When we were campaigning for the Senate, we knew we were going to win every ward in the South Senatorial Zone, but we still had some incentives. Any ward that APGA won received N1m, and we won all the wards in Orumba South.

“We promised each of these wards N1m and next week, we will redeem it. The ward that comes first will get N5m, the second N3m and the third N2m. That was the deal. For November 8, any ward that wins again will receive N1m, while the first three performing wards will get N5m, N2m and N1m respectively.”

Although much damage control was done, many, including opposition parties and civil society groups, regarded this as overt voter inducement.

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) called it a “public confession of vote-buying” and pointed to sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Soludo’s side insisted the rewards targeted party canvassers rather than voters and were aimed at combating long-running voter apathy.

Vote buying confirmed by The ICIR

The ICIR, during the field observation across polling units, documented numerous instances of cash and material inducements offered to voters.

From Idemili North and South, Onitsha North and South, Dunukofia, Njikoka, and several other local government areas of the state, vote-buying was visible as the governor made the controversial remarks.

110 year old Peter Onwujiobi waiting to cast his at PU 002,ward 13,Ofiyi sqaure Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
110-year-old Peter Onwujiobi is waiting to cast his vote at PU 002, ward 13, Ofiyi Square, Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

In several cases, party agents, including those representing candidates who had publicly condemned vote-buying, were seen distributing cash and compiling names of beneficiaries.

The vote buying, unlike in previous elections, is done systematically, but still blatant for observers to witness.

Payments ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦5,000 were recorded across parties, including APGA, APC, PDP, and the Labour Party (LP).

For instance, in Nnewi North, where our reporters were stationed, nearly all polling units observed witnessed vote-buying.

At Umuchu in the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, The ICIR observed various party agents compiling names of voters and rewarding them with as little as N1,000 per vote.

At the polling unit of Labour Party’s governorship aspirant, George Moghalu, chaos broke out after he cast his vote at about 11:39 a.m., as voters jostled for their share of the money promised by his campaign agents.

Earlier that morning, a man had approached this reporter at the Moghalu’s home, seeking to know how he could collect cash for canvassing votes for Moghalu. Similar gatherings were observed at the candidate’s office, where supporters assembled as early as 7 a.m. to receive money.

Ironically, Moghalu had previously condemned Soludo’s comments on vote-buying and denied involvement in such acts when questioned by The ICIR.

However, there were even more daring vote-buying in other polling units involving other political parties, where party agents had explained they couldn’t compete with other parties.

At the three polling units (011, 012, and 013) in Corporative centres, Uruagu, Nnewi North, the Labour Party agent told this reporter that “they haven’t gotten many votes because they didn’t have money to offer,” alleging that other parties are giving out money.

Independent observations also revealed that some voters were discreetly moved into a nearby building resembling a bar, where payments were made after they cast their ballots.

Three women were also seen opposite the polling units at Corporative Centres, discreetly disbursing cash to voters.

In one case at Polling Unit 012, an elderly woman frustrated by BVAS failure was later manually accredited with the help of an APC agent, who subsequently collected her voter card and handed her ₦3,000.

While there are arrests by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of suspected vote buyers in some polling units, many others continued their operations unchecked throughout the day.

Low turnout: a state-wide malaise

Despite a slight improvement from the 2021 poll that first brought Soludo to office, voter turnout in Saturday’s election remained alarmingly low.

While the 2021 election saw about 10 per cent participation, this year’s figure only rose to 21.40 per cent statewide.

A 74 year old Peter Nwafor-a visually-impaired man being assisted by the daugher Ifeoma Nwafor to vote at the just concluded Anambra election.
A 74-year-old Peter Nwafor visually-impaired man being assisted by his daughter, Ifeoma Nwafor, to vote at the just concluded Anambra election.

The ICIR reports that voters’ turnout has fallen significantly over time in Anambra’s governorship elections, reflecting a deepening sense of voter apathy and mistrust in the political system.

The state had seen voter participation decline from about 16 per cent in 2010 to just 10 per cent in 2021. The 2021 election, which brought Soludo to power, highlighted this troubling pattern.

Out of the 2,466,638 registered voters in Anambra in 2021, only 253,388 were accredited to vote. Ultimately, the total votes cast stood at 253,388, with 8,108 of them declared invalid. This indicated that barely 10 per cent of registered voters in the state participated in the election.

Analysis of voting trends shows that only 1.02 million voted in 1999 out of the 2.2 million registered voters, representing 46.4 per cent.

There was a slight increase in the voter turnout in the 2003 election, with having registered 47.22 per cent turnout.

In the 2010 election, out of 1.84 million registered voters in Anambra, only 302,000 turned out to vote, representing roughly 16 per cent participation.

By 2013, voter turnout slightly improved, with 465,891 out of 1,770,127 registered voters casting their ballots, about 25 per cent of the electorate.

Analysis of the recent election showed turnout rates of 17.61 per cent in Nnewi North and 27.14 per cent in Nnewi South, where the LP, APC, and ADC candidates performed strongly.

In Aguata Local Government Area, where Soludo voted, turnout stood at 28.24 per cent.

In Soludo’s polling unit, PU 002, Ward 13, Ofiyi Square, Isuofia, Aguata LGA, out of 933 registered voters, only 430 persons voted.

Though security threats from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were largely absent this time, voter distrust and scepticism about the integrity of the process remained high.

In some areas, minimal enforcement of movement restrictions also contributed to the low turnout, as many residents opened their shops and went about business as usual.

Priority access for the elderly and PWDs

Amid the widely reported misconduct and apathy, the prioritisation of elderly persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs) stood out positively in polling units monitored.

At multiple polling units, officials provided plastic chairs for older voters, ensured shorter queues, and assisted visually or physically impaired voters, concretely implementing the inclusion mandate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A 74-year-old visually impaired man, Peter Nwafor, for example, cast his vote at Ward 13, Polling Unit 002 in Isuofia, Aguata, with assistance from his daughter, Ifeoma Nwafor.

He said he hoped that the next government would “remember the health and welfare of the elderly who may not be under pension”.

Peaceful execution

From a logistical and security standpoint, the election proceeded without major flare-ups. On Friday, The ICIR saw the transfer of sensitive materials from the INEC office in Ekwulobia headquarters of Aguata Local Government Area, to various wards and towns of Umuchu, Oraeri, Akpo, Uga, Isuofia and others.

INEC ad-hoc Officials moving sensitve material to different towns from Ekwulobia-the headquaters of Aguata Local Governent Area of Anambra State.
INEC ad-hoc Officials are moving sensitive material to different towns from the Ekwulobia headquarters of the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The earlier movement of sensitive materials led to the commencement of accreditation exercises in most parts of the states,The ICIR reports.

BVAS devices also functioned in most units, and police maintained order at centres across the state, The ICIR findings showed.

PDP National Secretariat was in turmoil on Tuesday. Here is what we saw

Mustapha USMAN
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PDP National Secretariat was in turmoil on Tuesday. Here is what we saw

It was a full-blown showdown at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat on Tuesday, November 18, as Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde faced off against embattled Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and Samuel Anyawu in a dramatic struggle for control of the opposition party’s headquarters in Abuja.

In the buildup to the event, Tanimu Turaki, the new National chairman of the PDP elected by the Bala-Makinde faction of the party, on Monday, November 17, requested security protection from the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dantawaye Miller, ahead of the party’s inaugural National Working Committee (NWC) meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the party’s National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

Similarly, the rival Wike-Anyawu faction simultaneously issued a notice of NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT), fixing their own gathering for the same date, same time (10 a.m.), and the same venue. Turaki would later describe this move as “a deliberate attempt to cause confusion and breach the peace.”

Dozens of police officers at the PDP secreatriat front gate
Dozens of police officers at the PDP secreatriat front gate

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, dozens of people gathered close to the party National Secretariat as of 8:am with heavy security presence encircling the surroundings of the Wadata Plaza. The ICIR observed hundreds of heavily armed police officers mounted at different locations across party’s national secretariat and nearby buildings, including the Sky Memorial Plaza.

In several corners around the same location, The ICIR saw individuals suspected to be hired thugs lurking as if waiting for order to storm the PDP building. Some of them were seen with daggers, while others smoked Indian hemp.

A small group of supporters, fewer than 50, marched opposite the Wadata Plaza with placards reading “Turaki Must Go.” They accused the newly elected factional national chairman of emerging through a process they claimed fair. In other fliers sighted by The ICIR, the supporters believed to be loyalists of Wike waved a big banner in solidarity with the FCT minister.

The peaceful gathering of rival supporters soon spiraled into pandemonium, prompting police officers to fire tear gas, which further escalated the crisis.

The chaos soon led to both groups accusing of police bias and further exposed the PDP’s deepening internal fractures.

‘No convention in Ibadan, just a Christmas carol’

Addressing journalists around 10:00 am, former National Secretary Anyanwu, who was already in the building, said his suspension was ‘laughable’, insisting he remained the PDP National Secretary until December 8.

Anyawu
Anyanwu addrssing the media at PDP secretariat

Recall that the party had in a convention held in Ibadan on November 15 expelled several prominent figures, including Anyanwu, Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose over alleged gross anti-party activities.

Consequently, Turaki was elected the new chairman.

Reacting to this on Tuesday, Anyanwu dismissed the Ibadan meeting that dissolved the National Working Committee, stating that no legitimate convention occurred and that due process was completely ignored.

“As the national secretary of the party in our constitution, it was very clear that for every convention, the national secretary will state the affairs of the party in the convention. Two, every communication from the convention on the committee is communicated to the members of the party by my office. Three, there should be a one day communication… that I am going to hold a convention,” he said.

Anyanwu maintained that the individuals that announced his suspension had no such power, adding that the moves by the party’s acting chairman, Umar Damagum, were null and void. 

According to him, Damagum had already been suspended and therefore had no moral or legal standing to act.

Crisis erupts

Following his address around 10:55am, the atmosphere changed when Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde arrived with their supporters, attempting to take control of the building where a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting was expected to hold. 

Bala Mohammed, Seyi Makinde, others forcing entrance intoo the meeting hall
Bala Mohammed, Seyi Makinde, others forcing their way into the meeting hall

Although the police had allowed them to enter the building, some persons, later found out to be bouncers dressed in black attempted to block their entry.

The ICIR heard the bouncers saying ‘they will only allow them in with order from the above.’ But they were soon overpowered by the governors’ security details and aides.

This triggered confrontations that set off the teargassing by police and some individuals identified as the Wike-faction.

Tear gas, clashes…

During the chaos, The ICIR observed how the Wike-factional members were beaten, manhandled, and chased out of the NWC meeting hall. 

Police fired multiple rounds of tear gas, and at times hitting journalists and party members as they struggled to control the surging crowds. 

While the police claimed they were targeting “suspected thugs,” the faction led by the newly elected chairman, Kabiru Turaki, accused the officers of ‘molesting’ its members and aiding Wike’s entry into the building.

Police teargassing supporters at the PDP national secretariat ABuja
Police teargassing supporters at the PDP national secretariat Abuja

The ICIR reports that although Makinde and Bala temporarily succeeded in pushing out Wike’s loyalists from the NEC hall area, the group became strong again when Wike arrived around 11:20 a.m. 

The two governors, alongside Turaki and their elected National Secretary, physically blocked the minister from entering until police fired more tear gas to disperse the crowd, clearing a path for the minister’s convoy to gain entrance into the building.

Turaki accuses police of sabotaging peace, seeks Trump’s intervention

Amid the tension, the newly elected PDP chairman condemned the police response and accused security agents of shooting and tear-gassing members of his faction.

Turalki adressing the media for the second time on Tuesday
Turalki adressing the media for the second time on Tuesday

He said, while addressing the press for the second time, that he and his members including the two governors present were molested and harassed by the police in an attempt to allow Wike’s entrance into the building.

“Our serving and former governors are here. Our members of the National Assembly are here. Our members of the Board of Trustees are here. And you have seen how they are now granted access to the minister of the FCT, a person that has been declared a personal non-grata in the PDP, a person that has been expelled, to come in.

“They have tear-gassed us and tear-gassed even our governors, who are under the constitution… Some of our boys, some of our members who have come here to attend meetings have been shot by the police,” he said.

He further called on the United States President Donald Trump to “save democracy in Nigeria,” alleging threats to lives and political freedom.

Turaki declared that he and his colleagues were “ready to lay down their lives” to defend their mandate and prevent the party from being ‘hijacked.’

Bala Mohammed accused police of molesting him, Makinde

On his part, Bala Mohammed claimed the Oyo State governor and himself were physically harassed, despite their constitutional protection. 

 “Some imposters who have been expelled by the convention, which is the highest decision organ of the party, came to cause commotion. And you can see the minister of the FCT coming himself, in person, being backed by the police. We are surprised because, at the point when the police allowed us in, our chairman praised them for impartiality. But here we are. We are here to sit in, to see what will happen.

“We have been teargassed and molested in spite of our immunity and whatever we have as leaders in our own right with our chairman. It is for the nation to gaze at the kind of democracy we have, the kind of leadership we have.

A clash that lasted nearly six hours

By 2pm, The ICIR reported that the PDP secretariat experienced repeated waves of tear gas, with police officers chasing journalists and party members away from the building and its surroundings.

Although Wike stayed in his car for over two hours at the PDP secretariat, his presence caused a standstill as leaders of the other faction refused to leave until the FCT minister exited the premises.

Bala, while addressing the police, asked the officers to intervene in removing the minister from the building, but that proved unsuccessful.

Wike departing from the PDP National Secretariat
Wike departing from the PDP National Secretariat

Wike eventually left at 2:06 p.m., allowing Bala, Makinde, and Turaki to re-enter the main building briefly before also departing around 2:39 p.m.

VP Shettima attends political rally in Kogi to welcome defectors few hours after Kebbi schoolgirls kidnapping

Harrison EDEH
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VP Shettima attends political rally in Kogi to welcome defectors few hours after Kebbi schoolgirls kidnapping

THE ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) went ahead to hold a rally on Monday, November 17, in Kogi State, few hours after the tragic abduction of Schoolgirls from their hostel in Kebbi in the early hours of Monday.

The 25 girls were abducted by gunmen who also killed a security guard and a vice principal of the school. This is not the first time such an abduction has taken place, for which timeline has also revealed that in the last decade, 1,000 schoolchildren were kidnapped in 10 years, as The ICIR reported.

The rally reported by some media outlets and posted on the official state website saw the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, welcoming several defectors from the opposition party.

He said, “I am going back to Abuja to deliver the message to Mr President, the message from the Confluence state today is that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu victory in 2027 is total.”

In 2014, the then president, Jonathan came under criticism for attending and dancing at a politically rally while Nigerians mourned victims of a bomb blast in Abuja.

The Kogi rally has also come under criticism.

A social media user, @ApexHodde, expressed concern about Nigerian leaders’ inability to set priorities right.

“Nigerian leaders travelled for a very important political event in Kogi. That event is far more important than ordinary Nigerian loves,” he tweeted.

On the heel of the the criticism, the Kogi state government released a statement from the event which has the former governor Yahya Bello saying:

“Today, we are endorsing President Tinubu and Alhaji Ahmed Ododo for a second term.

“They have done well, and will continue to do more for the state and the nation as far as the people of Kogi State are concerned.

“We are telling President Bola Tinubu that he does not need to come and campaign for his reelection in Kogi in 2027, because Kogi people are solidly behind him.”

Image at Kogi State rally and receiving of defectors on Monday, November 17.
Image at Kogi State rally and receiving of defectors on Monday, November 17.

In addition, in a different post the state governor, Ahmed Ododo described the defection of a former governor Idris Wada to the ruling APC as a boost to the APC’s Kogi fortune.

He said, “The list of the decampees is endless. In Kogi State, opposition has been grounded; Kogi is APC, and APC is Kogi State. My Special appreciation to Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, His Excellency Alhaji Kashim Shettima. We are here to let people know that our responsibility is to serve our people well,” the governor said.

Meanwhile, a former minister and social activist, Oby Ezekwesili, on her official social media handle has called on the government to mount a search and rescue mission.

She said, “the lessons of the failure of @NigeriaGov@NIGPresidemt to swiftly mount effective search and Rescue Operations for ChibokGirls2014 and DapchGirls (2018) through the security establishments are evident to guide this administration.

“Those school girls have no reason to spend one day in the enclave of terrorists,” Ezekwesil tweeted.

Within the past three administrations, the abduction of school children has generated millions in ransom for kidnappers, as fresh attacks prove no end in sight for the menace.

From former President Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammad Buhari and now Bola Tinubu, more than 1,000 students have been kidnapped between 2014 and March 2024.

TIMELINE: Kebbi schoolgirls others kidnapped since Chibok incident

Kehinde OGUNYALE  and  James EMMANUEL
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TIMELINE: Kebbi schoolgirls others kidnapped since Chibok incident

For over a decade, bandits and terrorist groups have continued to disrupt the Nigerian education system, kidnapping over 1,000 students, The ICIR findings have shown.

The abduction of school childrenhas generated millions in ransom for kidnappers, as fresh attack, Monday, on a school in Kebbi State that led to the abduction of over 20 students prove no end yet in sight to the menace.

From former President Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari and, now, President Bola Tinubu, more than 1,000 students have been kidnapped between 2014 and November 2025. The ICIR had reported how Buhari’s administration recorded 300 per cent more schoolchildren abductions than Jonathan’s.

Several media reports gathered by The ICIR have shown that not less than 16 attacks have been carried out in 10 states, located around the northern region of Nigeria.

Timeline of abduction 

2025: On November 17, police confirmed the abduction of 25 students and the killing of the vice principal of Government Girl’s Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State after armed men attacked the school.

2024: At the beginning of the year, January 30, gunmen abducted six pupils and three teachers of a private school in Emure, headquarters of Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Also, on March 8, gunmen abducted about 287 children in Kaduna state from the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Some days later, another 15 students were kidnapped from a school in Gada, Sokoto.

Visualisation showing mass school kidnappings in Nigeria
Visualisation showing mass school kidnappings in Nigeria

2023: In January 2023, six people were abducted at the Local Government Education Authority Primary School, Alwaza, in the Doma, Nasarawa state. In September, 24 students were reportedly kidnapped from their hostel in Sabon Gida, Zamfara state.

2021: Gunmen raided the Government Science College Kagara, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, on February 17, capturing 27 students and teachers in the school.

Some days later, on February 26, about 317 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe in Jangebe, Zamfara state.

The following month, on March 11, 39 students were kidnapped by gunmen in the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Igabi LGA, Kaduna state.

Another attack took palace On May 30 at an Islamic school in Niger state with armed men abducting about 100 students.

The next month, on June 17, over 96 students and eight teachers were abducted by bandits at Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State.

Finally, in July, bandits kidnapped over 153 students of Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi town of Chikun local government area in Kaduna.

2020: On December 11, 2020, more than 303 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina were kidnapped by gunmen.

Also, on December 19, another 80 Islamic school students in Dandume, Kastina were kidnapped. These children were later rescued by the security operatives.

2018: The second attack was reported four years after in Yobe state on February 19, 2018. About 110 students were kidnapped after Boko Haram invaded the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi. While being held hostage, some of the girls died, and others were later rescued, leaving Leah Sharibu, a Christian child who had not been rescued.

2014: In April 2014, over 276 female students, between the 16 to 18, were kidnapped by Boko Haram from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State. Some of the school girls reportedly escaped in the process of being transported while others, on several occasions, were reduced by the military. Meanwhile, over 100 of these children are still missing to this date.

(This report only focuses on schoolchildren kidnapped since 2014 that made it to mainstream mediums. It also focuses on kidnappings of schoolchildren that happened within or around a school environment and uses the term schoolchildren synonymously with students).

Editors note: this report was first published in 2024, before it was updated and republished. Read the first version HERE

Cloudflare outage disrupts thousands of websites, apps worldwide

Abdulazeez Gobir
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Cloudflare outage disrupts thousands of websites, apps worldwide

CLOUDFLARE, a major company providing a wide range of services aimed at enhancing the security, performance, and reliability of websites and online services across the world is currently experiencing a hitch.

Its collapse on Tuesday, November 18, sparked a global outage, flooding websites and social media apps with error messages and disrupting users worldwide.

Cloudflare, a US company that provides critical services like defending websites against malicious attacks, experienced an unidentified problem that prevented users from accessing its customers’ sites.

A spokesperson for Cloudflare said: “We saw a spike in unusual traffic to one of Cloudflare’s services beginning at 11.20 am. That caused some traffic passing through Cloudflare’s network to experience errors. While most traffic for most services continued to flow as normal, there were elevated errors across multiple Cloudflare services.

“We do not yet know the cause of the spike in unusual traffic. We are all hands on deck to make sure all traffic is served without errors. After that, we will turn our attention to investigating the cause of the unusual spike in traffic.”

The outage occurred on a day when Cloudflare engineers were scheduled to carry out maintenance on data centres in several cities, including Tahiti, Los Angeles, and Santiago.

However, the company has not confirmed if these planned activities were related to the unexpected traffic spike that caused the global disruption.

 

Another Nigerian university gets 4th VC in one year under Tinubu

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Another Nigerian university gets 4th VC in one year under Tinubu

THE management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) in Awka, Anambra State, has appointed Ugochukwu Anyaehie, a professor, as the new substantive vice-chancellor, following a year marked by three controversial appointments amid administrative and legal disputes.

The appointment came shortly after the University of Abuja got its fourth vice chancellor within a year earlier this month.

Louis Njelita, the spokesperson for NAU, also known as UNIZIK, announced Anyaehie’s nomination in a statement on Sunday, noting that the appointment would take effect from November 18, 2025.

“The Governing Council of the University has approved Professor Anyaehie’s appointment for a single tenure of five years. He was appointed by the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on November 16th, 2025.

“I am pleased to announce Professor Bond Anyaehie as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University after a thorough and transparent process,” Njelita wrote. 

He emphasised that the appointment process adhered to UNIZIK’s Miscellaneous Act and the university’s Statutes, adding that the pro-chancellor urged candidates who were disqualified during the selection process to accept the outcome in good faith.

Anyaehie will succeed Carol Arinze-Umobi, who has been serving as the acting vice-chancellor following a series of controversial appointments at the university between 2024 and 2025.

Arinze-Umobi assumed the role of acting vice-chancellor after President Bola Tinubu dismissed Bernard Odoh from the position.

Odoh, whose professorship is now disputed, emerged as the seventh substantive vice-chancellor of the university on 29 October, and was removed just three weeks after his appointment in November 2024, amid controversies surrounding his recruitment process and academic credentials.

The tenure of Charles Okechukwu Esimone, a professor, ended in mid-2024.

Following the end of his tenure, Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu, another professor, took over as the Acting Vice-Chancellor in June 2024 and was later reinstated as the Acting VC in November 2024 after his appointment was reversed.

In his acceptance speech, Anyaehie pledged to uphold and build on the legacies established by the university’s founding fathers.

“I guarantee you that in the next six months, UNIZIK will be well placed, its ranking will go to one of the best in Nigeria,” he assured.

According to the statement, Anyaehie is a distinguished professor of physiology and clinical measurements.

He has more than two decades of teaching experience at the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, where he began lecturing in 2007.

He rose to the rank of professor of physiology and clinical measurements in 2013.

The new vice-chancellor earned his first degree in Medicine and Surgery from Abia State University, Uturu, in 1998.

He obtained a Master’s degree in 2004 and completed his PhD in 2009.

Anyaehie started his teaching career at the College of Medicine, Imo State University, in 2002, joining as a part-time lecturer before transitioning to full-time.

He served as deputy provost of the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, from 2018 to 2022.

He was also acting provost of the College of Medicine at Imo State University and a visiting professor from 2020 to 2022, a role he undertook on a pro bono basis.

[BREAKING] Crisis erupts at PDP National Secretariat

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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[BREAKING] Crisis erupts at PDP National Secretariat

CRISIS erupted at the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat on Tuesday, November 18, after the Nyesom Wike-Samuel Anyanwu faction mobilised around the secretariat and clashed with members loyal to the newly elected national chairman of the party, Kabiru Turaki.

The clash followed the Wike and Turaki-led groups planned 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the secretariat.

Heavy security presence was seen within and outside the premises by The ICIR reporter who covered the developments.

Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with his team, and the Turaki-led faction are currently at the secretariat and attempting to take over the premises amid teargas by the Police.

 

Details later…

Tension as Wike–Anyanwu faction gathers at PDP HQ ahead of 103rd NEC meeting

Mustapha USMAN
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Tension as Wike–Anyanwu faction gathers at PDP HQ ahead of 103rd NEC meeting

HEAVY security presence on Thursday, November 18, encircled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national headquarters in Wuse Zone 5 and the nearby Sky Memorial area as Wike-Anyanwu faction mobilised around the secretariat ahead of the party’s 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

A small group of supporters, fewer than 50, marched opposite the Wadata Plaza with placards reading “Turaki Must Go.”

They accused newly elected factional national chairman Kabiru Turaki of emerging through a process they insist lacked fairness.

Police officers stationed in front of PDP National Headquarters
Police officers stationed in front of PDP National Headquarters

However, security operatives, particularly the police, swiftly stopped them from marching towards the front gate of the secretariat and dispersed them to the opposite lane.

In several corners around Wuse Zone 5, The ICIR observed tattered-looking individuals suspected to be hired thugs lurking, which has heightened concerns of possible clash as tensions around the PDP’s internal crisis continued to escalate.

Meanwhile, journalists, party members and security officials converged at the secretariat in anticipation of the NEC meeting.

This development came days after Turaki was elected chairman by some members at the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15, 2025.

In his acceptance speech, he promised to overhaul the party’s internal processes, restore internal democracy and eliminate impunity.

Turaki acknowledged that the PDP was at a ‘crossroads’ but assured members that the new leadership was prepared to confront the party’s challenges.

He also disclosed that the new National Working Committee would soon unveil its operational blueprint.

In the same development, the party also expelled several prominent figures, including Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, and former National Secretary Anyanwu, among others, over alleged gross anti-party activities.

[UNCOVERED]: Inside Biafra groups’ lobby contracts amid US genocide warning against Nigeria

Fidelis Mac-Leva
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[UNCOVERED]: Inside Biafra groups’ lobby contracts amid US genocide warning against Nigeria

DIFFERENT groups with ties to the Biafra separatist movement have actively lobbied the United States to recognise and support its bid for secession from Nigeria over the years, The ICIR findings reveal.

Several agreements were signed between the groups and US based firms, to carry out lobby campaigns, filings with the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) have shown.

This is coming amid President Donald Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as “a country of particular concern” with a threat to strike over genocide claims against Christians in the country.

The ICIR reports that during Trump’s first term in office the US State Department designated Nigeria as a CPC in December 2020. This was, however, reversed in November 2021 during the Biden administration.

Inside the lobby contracts

Investigation by The ICIR reveal that the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and other pro-Biafra separatist groups have entered into several contracts with US based firms to carry out different campaigns for self-determination agenda.

One of the filings indicate that in June 2024, the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) engaged Moran Global Strategies (MGS), a US based lobbying and strategic advisory firm, to “lobby to gain support for Biafra’s independence.”

The document confirms that the company had been acting as its foreign agent to lobby and advocate on their behalf in the US.

As part of the deal, a “letter of agreement” was signed on June 10-12, 2024, between MGS and the BRGIE, represented by its self-styled prime minister, Simon Ekpa.

Moran Global Strategies (MGS) is a US-based government-relations firm registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). It is owned by former U.S. Representative Jim Moran, who served the Northern Virginia communities of Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax County for 24 years.

Under the deal, MGS is to gain US support for Biafra independence, promote the narrative that Biafra would be a staunch ally of the US and a bulwark against Islamic terrorism in the region.

The deal provides that the lobby firm would be paid a monthly fee of $10,000 to render lobbying, promotion, perception management, and PR services on behalf of its client, according to the deal.

The document further showed that the contract commenced on June 15, 2024, while the fees would be billed in advance on the first day of each month and due on or before the 15th day.

Some of the documents for the contract with MSG
Some of the documents for the contract with MGS

The contract, renewable on an annual basis, according to the terms, would help the separatist leader to convince the US government and private sectors to support the secession of Biafra from Nigeria.

“Under terms of this agreement, MGS agrees to provide Biafra with strategic advice and facilitate interaction with appropriate members of the Executive and Legislative Branches of the US government, as well as third-party interests.

“MGS will support Biafra’s fundamental goal to encourage the United States government to support Biafran independence and to recognise Biafra as the only entity which represents Biafra,” part of the agreement reads.

It said the US government would be encouraged to engage BRGIE directly and through advocacy by the US Congress and others, including faith-based and human rights organisations and think tanks.

The Jewish sentiment agreement

Findings by The ICIR also revealed that another lobby contract was signed between the Biafra Jewish Autonomous Region Governing Council and a Las Vegas based lobby firm, Daniel Golden on January 1, 2024. The agreement, according to documents obtained by The ICIR “is to create support for the establishment of a Jewish Autonomous Region in Biafra.”

This, according to the agreement, is to be achieved through reaching out to politicians to encourage support for the autonomous region, marketing awareness through social media and email.

“We plan to disseminate our vision and goals for the region to politicians, create dialogue between the region, the US, and its allies, lobby governments for support,” the pro-Biafra group stated, stressing that the plans would include governance and economic details.

Similarly, the United States of Biafra, entered into another agreement with a US registered lobby firm known as the United States of Biafra-Biafra Republic Government in Exile-Defacto.

In this instance the address of the registrant and the address of the foreign principal are the same.

The agreement was aimed at “leading the United States of Biafra citizens in the 40 states of Biafra, humanitarian assistance, fundraising activities, appointments, control and making pronouncements and rules.”

The filing shows that one, Christian Edeozor, represented the United States of Biafra, while Ngozi Orabueze signed the agreement on behalf of the registrant.

The United States of Biafra, entered into another agreement with a US registered lobby firm known as the United States of Biafra-Biafra Republic Government in Exile-Defacto.
The United States of Biafra, entered into another agreement with a US registered lobby firm known as the United States of Biafra-Biafra Republic Government in Exile-Defacto.

Findings by The ICIR shows that the representative of the registrant, Orabueze, is a qualified APRNFNP (Advanced Practice Registered Family Nurse Practitioner) practicing in Atlanta, where she works at Georgia Act and Healthcare Services.

Orabueze is one of the prominent figures in the Biafra movement scene also known as the Chief of Staff for the Biafra Republic Government in Exile. She was even been appointed as a “Minister of Oil and Gas” for Biafra by Simon Ekpa. She made headlines for unveiling the Biafra flag in Finland and announcing a recruitment drive for a “Biafran Airforce.”

What BRGIE stands for

BRGIE is a self-proclaimed government set up by some Biafran separatist leaders and activists seeking for an independent state separate from Nigeria.

It is a “government in exile” that focuses on diplomatic and foreign relations activities, like building alliances, sharing the Biafran story worldwide, and negotiating with other nations and international organisations for actions against Nigeria.

BRGIE has had the first ever U.S. congressional briefing on September 18, 2025, indicating some level of lobby engagement with the U.S. legislative branch.

The organisation claims to provide services such as asylum assistance for Biafrans seeking refugee protection and is involved in various projects, including a self-referendum push and humanitarian type initiatives.

Part of the agreemnet between Biafra Jewish Autonomous Region & Daniel Golden.
Part of the agreemnet between Biafra Jewish Autonomous Region & Daniel Golden.

More lobby deals uncovered

Findings by The ICIR indicate that prior to the 2024 agreement, two others had been entered into between IPOB and other US-based lobby firms.

For instance, in February 2021, the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, engaged BW Global Group (BWGG) another American lobbying firm to help the group win the support of the U.S. government.

The firm, co-owned by Jeffrey Birrel and Alan White, is registered in Washington D.C, with a high concentration of top government officials, lawmakers, policymakers, and opinion leaders. It is believed that IPOB engaged them to push its cause.

The one-year deal which was slated to run for 12 months, was signed at the cost of $750,000, according to the contract papers. Filings by BWGG after negotiations which were concluded in February 2021 show that the firm was engaged by Kanu to undertake “political activities” in the U.S. on behalf of IPOB.

The activities include engaging the U.S. government, Congress and the Department of State, (the equivalent of Foreign Affairs Ministries in Nigeria and other countries) and engaging policymakers on behalf of IPOB.

“The registrant expects to advocate on behalf of IPOB within the US Government (including the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of State) and otherwise engage policymakers and opinion leaders.

“BWGG shall provide the IPOB with services relating to the promotion of human rights and democracy and shall otherwise act as an advocate for the indigenous people of Biafra,” the document reads in part.

It added that BWGG “may also undertake other similar services that might be referred to BWGG by IPOB from time to time by mutual agreement.”

IPOB confirmed that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu had, indeed, engaged a new lobbying firm in the United States.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement disclosed that Kanu hired the US lobbyist with over N300m.

“Yes, it’s true we hired another lobbying group in USA to facilitate the coming and recognition of Biafra independence, we engaged them with the wholesome amount of 300m naira about $750 to lobby for Biafra freedom in America and the whole world,” Powerful reportedly said.

The ICIR also found that aside the BWGG agreement, a similar one was earlier struck by Kanu with another U.S.-based lobbying entity, Mercury Public Affairs LLC, in 2019.

According to the agreement paper submitted to the US Department of Justice, the lobbyists were engaged to provide strategic consulting services, government relations, and public affairs, including outreach to and engagement with relevant third-party organisations on issues of importance to Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB.

Under the contract, which kicked off in October, 2019, IPOB, through Kanu, paid Mercury Public Affairs $85,000 per month to help IPOB seek global endorsement, sympathy as well as carry out anti-Nigerian campaigns across the world.

Among other things, Mercury Public Affairs was to lobby the US Congress and State Department, promote human rights and democracy in Nigeria while advocating for the Biafran cause of self determination.

The firm is said to have succeeded in providing strategic consulting to IPOB which enabled IPOB engage international human-right organisations.

For instance, in a report promoted by Mercury Public Affairs LLC in PRNewswire – the global press-release distribution service-on March 25, 2020, the foreign agent had guided IPOB and Kanu to petition the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions on human rights abuses in its official report on Nigeria.

According to the report, the petition chronicled human rights abuses perpetrated against Biafrans in Nigeria to Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions at the United Nations.

Callamard had visited Nigeria in 2019 to investigate reports of violence and injustice against innocent Nigerians and the petition was part of a broader effort to secure a review of the materials for possible inclusion in a UN report on Nigeria.

File photo of Senator Ted Cruz with IPOB’s Okechukwu Nkere. Source: TheCable

Last year, BRGIE claim it’s acting prime minister, Nkere, met with US senator Ted Cruz, this said meeting was later highlighted by Ekpa, who amplified it on his X post.

Cruz, a US Republican Senator from Texas is known for his conservative stance on issues like gun rights, limited government, and religious freedom, Cruz has been lobbying for sanctions and military action in Nigeria over claims of persecution of Christians in the country.

Recently, Cruz proposed a bill that seeks to protect “persecuted” Christians in Nigeria and hold Nigerian government officials accountable for “facilitating the mass murder”.

Known as “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025”, the legislation seeks to hold Nigerian government officials accountable for allegedly “facilitating the mass murder of Christians”.

IPOB protest in US 

Also, in the wake of the current genocide allegations, there was protest organised by IPOB in Washington to oppose a proposed Nigerian government delegation’s visit to “polish Nigeria’s image.”

The protest, announced by IPOB’s media secretary, Emma Powerful, sought to “raise our voices with thunder in the capital of the free world” and show solidarity with President Trump’s stance against “ethno-religious genocide in Nigeria.”

This, according to Iliyasu Gadu, an Abuja based diplomat and public affairs commentator who spoke with The ICIR, was a clear demonstration of the re-enactment of the Biafra lobby campaign activity by Biafra related groups in the US capital.

Similarly, the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), a US-based veterans’ organisation, wrote to the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, calling for the establishment of a United States military base in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

AVID is made up of American citizens of Igbo descent who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  
In the letter dated November 6, and signed by its president, Sylvester Unyia and Secretary, Godson Obiagwu, the group thanked Secretary Hegseth for his “unwavering support in tackling the Christian genocide in Nigeria” and urged concrete action to deter further violence.

AVID said its members have deep cultural and geographical knowledge of the affected areas in southeastern Nigeria, which they believe uniquely positions them to support US engagement in the region.

“We know the topography of the areas affected, their mindset, culture, and comprehend fully the magnitude of this problem.

“A permanent solution is the only way to resolve this  genocide. Establishing a U.S. military base (in Nigeria) will be the genesis of resolving this issue, as it will serve as a deterrent to these perpetrators,” the letter stated.

Congressional briefing claims 

BRGIE claims it attended a U.S. congressional briefing on September 18, 2025. According to BRGIE, during the meeting, they presented what they called “verifiable evidence” of religious and ethnic persecution in Nigeria directly to U.S. lawmakers, highlighting mass killings, Christian persecution, and alleged genocidal acts against Biafrans and Christians.

BRGIE’s leadership claims that it lobbied US lawmakers, including Cruz. According to BRGIE’s Nkere this advocacy contributed to the Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025. However, publicly available congressional documents do not explicitly reference BRGIE as the source of the bill.

Describing the briefing as an “open door to international recognition” for Biafra, BRGIE’s Nkere, said it marked a paradigm shift from a local Nigerian issue to a global religious freedom emergency, encouraging other countries and international bodies to get involved.

In a video released on X, Nkere expressed the desire of BRGIE to enter into economic, defence, and military deals with the United States and called on the US government to sanction Nigeria for alleged human rights abuses against Biafrans.

He also demanded the release of Indigenous People of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu by Nigeria and Simon Ekpa by Finland.

US Senators misled by IPOB – Presidency

The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being behind reports that allegedly influenced former U.S. President Trump’s threat of possible military action against Nigeria.

During an interview on Russia National TV, Daniel Bwala, an aide to President Bola Tinubu, urged Trump to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and desist from any plans to deploy American troops to the country.

Bwala described the allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria as a “false narrative” pushed by separatist groups and their international sympathisers to discredit the Tinubu administration.

“We try our best to downplay the rhetoric because we know for sure that that can be the reflection of the realities on ground,” he said.

According to Bwala, U.S. senators such as Ted Cruz had been “misled by IPOB sympathisers” who deliberately manipulated data and reports to influence Washington’s foreign policy.

 IPOB reviving their civil war propaganda – Diplomat

Gadu, the diplomat and public affairs commentator earlier mentioned said the IPOB and, indeed the Igbo’s generally have been ‘forceful’ in terms of lobbying and advocacy.

“When you go to the internet you see their commentators and bloggers very forceful in their lobby campaigns. They have carried out these campaigns to wherever their kit and kins are; whether in America, Germany or elsewhere.

“The agenda is to create an impression that the Igbo’s are being persecuted, marginalised and subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment in Nigeria. To the uncritical mind, this resonates, creating the impression that they may have a case. We all know that during the civil war the Igbo propaganda machine was very effective-more than even that of the federal government.

“So, they are building on that with their lobby and advocacy campaigns in the US and elsewhere to present themselves as victims of the Nigerian State. They are leveraging on the fact that America is a country of lobbyists with so many lobby groups in the Congress on many courses,” Gadu said.

Claims of marginalisation, particularly in the post–civil war era, remain one of the key drivers of the contemporary separatist movement in the South-East.

UNICAL Law dean Ndifon jailed over sexual harassment

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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UNICAL Law dean Ndifon jailed over sexual harassment

THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday handed the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cyril Ndifon, a five-year prison sentence with no option of a fine.

The judge, James Omotosho, ruled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully proved counts one and two against the UNICAL professor beyond reasonable doubt.

“The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office. Consequently, the 1st defendant is hereby convicted of count one and count two,” the judge ruled, adding that the court found Ndifon not to be a witness of truth.

The judge noted that he considered Ndifon’s status as a first-time offender when tempering justice with mercy.

He, therefore, sentenced Ndifon to two years’ imprisonment on count one and five years on count two, noting that the sentences were to run concurrently.

The ICIR reported in August 2023 that demale students of UNICAL’s Faculty of Law staged a protest within the school premises carrying placards that read, “Law students are not Bonanza, Prof. Ndifon should stop grabbing us. The Faculty of Law is not a brothel,” “Ndifon must go for our sanity,” among others.

Videos of the protest went viral on social media, generating several reactions, including those from many former students sharing similar experiences.

Ndifon reacted to the allegations, describing them as lies and the handiwork of his enemies following his emergence as the dean of faculty.

However, the convict had been suspended for similar reasons in 2015 after a final-year student accused him of raping her in his office.

The institution suspended Ndifon some days later, over allegations of sexual assault against him by some female students, and set up a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.

The panel, headed by a professor of philosophy, Dorothy Oluwagbemi-Jacob, was expected to carry out thorough investigations into at least six issues ranging from sexual harassment to results manipulation by Ndifon and make appropriate recommendations to the management.

In October 2023, Ndifon was arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) at the request of the ICPC after he failed to honour invitations following allegations of sexual assault levelled against him. Since then, the commission has been on the case.

 The High Court judge, in his ruling, discharged and acquitted Sunny Anyanwu, initially a member of Ndifon’s legal team, of all charges against him, noting that the anti-corruption agency failed to establish any link between Anyanwu and the offences in counts three and four.

In an amended charge dated January 19, 2024, the ICPC filed a four-count charge against Ndifon, the first defendant and his lawyer, Anyanwu, the second defendant.

Ndifon was initially the sole defendant, but Anyanwu was later added after allegations surfaced that he attempted to interfere with the case by calling the star witness during the proceedings to intimidate her.

Anyanwu allegedly phoned the witness, identified as TKJ, urging her not to respond to ICPC invitations or make any statement regarding the sexual harassment allegations against his client.

In the amended charge, counts one and two alleged that Ndifon sexually harassed female students of the institution. The ICPC claimed that while he was Dean of the Faculty of Law, Ndifon asked a female Diploma student and star witness, identified as TKJ, to send him “pornographic, indecent, and obscene photographs of herself” via WhatsApp.

He was further accused of repeatedly asking her to perform a “blow job” for him in exchange for securing admission to study Law.

Ndifon was alleged to have used his position as a public officer to sexually harass multiple female students and to secure undue advantage over them.

While count three was brought exclusively against Anyanwu, both he and Ndifon were jointly charged in count four for attempting to interfere with the course of justice.

On February 14, 2024, the ICPC closed its case against the two defendants after its fourth witness, forensic analyst Bwaigu Fungo, concluded his cross-examination.

The defendants then filed a no-case submission, contending that the prosecution had not established its allegations. 

However, on March 6, 2024,  Omotosho dismissed their application and directed them to open their defence.

Ndifon took the stand as the first defence witness (DW1), while Babagana Mingali, a chief superintendent of police and forensic analyst with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), appeared as the second defence witness (DW2).

In his judgment, Omotosho ruled that the ICPC had successfully proven the key elements of the offences outlined in counts one and two, and observed that Ndifon had not refuted evidence indicating that he had exerted undue pressure on TKJ to engage in immoral acts.

“The victim was desirous of being admitted into the university, and the 1st defendant was in a position of advantage to help her, being the dean, and the diploma course is under his supervision.

“The instances of undue advantage are so much. The 1st defendant abused his office,” the judge said, adding that the court found Ndifon not to be a witness of truth.

“Consequently, the 1st defendant is hereby convicted of count one and count two,” the judge ruled.

Regarding count three, the judge noted that while Anyanwu did call TKJ, the call occurred roughly four months before the investigation began. He stated that the court could not speculate on Anyanwu’s intentions at that time, and consequently discharged and acquitted him of both counts three and four.

“It was with dismay that I read through this case that a Dean of Law can turn himself into a sexual predator,” he said, describing Ndifon as “a disgrace to the community of learned persons” who must face the consequences of his actions.”

He further stated that the sentence is intended to serve as a warning to other public officers who abuse their positions to exploit women.

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